Editorial roundup

Aug. 3 Texarkana Gazette

Hitting the brakes

Coming into Arkansas on an interstate from Texas or Louisiana usually means putting on the brakes.

That’s because those states to the west and south allow a higher maximum speed limit on freeways than Arkansas.

In Texas, speeds limits on some stretches of highway (though not around here) can reach 85 mph. Get used to that and Arkansas roads can be slow-going indeed.

But motorists in a hurry could soon get a bit of leeway. Let us emphasize that word “could.” As of Aug. 1, a new law went into effect raising Arkansas’ maximum speed limit to 75 mph.

But don’t go putting the pedal to the metal anytime soon. You might be in a hurry but state highway officials aren’t.

You see, the law doesn’t require the 75 mph limit. It only allows it and leaves implementation up to the discretion of the Arkansas Department of Transportation—the new, slightly shorter name that also went into effect Tuesday for what was known as Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department. (The department got a new logo, too. Your tax dollars at work.)

In a written statement, the DOT said it “is undertaking a study to evaluate speed limits on all state highways to determine appropriate speeds. No decisions have been made at this point to increase speed limits anywhere in the state.” So, it’s possible some stretches of Arkansas highways could see a higher limit and it’s just as possible the limit will stay the same throughout the state. We just have to wait and see.

The Insurance Industry Institute for Highway Safety says higher speed limits mean an increase in accidents and highway fatalities, even on adjacent roads without the higher limits. We can see the argument against higher speed limits. After all, Arkansas is a mountainous state with a lot of twisty and turns on the highway system, not like Texas, for example, where long stretches of flat, fairly straight roads are not uncommon and where higher speeds are manageable.

Still, we have to think there must be some stretches in Arkansas (say from here to Little Rock, construction permitting) where the limit could be increased safely. The Legislature certainly seems to feel that way. And we are sure many in the public would welcome the 75 mph limit.

Just don’t get in a hurry for it to happen. The higher limit will likely remain more theory than fact for a long time to come.