The Shawnee Dispatch / State council endorses reduced highway speed limits

Archive for Wednesday, August 20, 2008

August 20, 2008

Topeka — Slower commutes and steeper fines could be down the road under a proposal advanced last week by the Kansas Energy Council.

But supporters say it will reduce climate-changing carbon dioxide gas emissions.

"The effort here is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through more efficient driving," said Bruce Snead, chairman of the KEC's Greenhouse Gas Policy Committee.

The full KEC voted to seek public comment on reducing the maximum speed limit from 70 mph to 65 mph on Kansas highways. These would include portions of interstates, the turnpike and some divided highways, such as Kansas Highway 10.

The council put forward a proposal to double fines for speeding, and reduce the "10-mile exemption" to 5 miles. Currently, speeding violations of 10 mph or less on roads with limits between 55 mph and 70 mph are not counted as moving violations on a driver's record.

But the package appears headed for a roadblock.

"No way, shape or form," said state Sen. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, a KEC member.

She said western Kansans who travel long distances vehemently would oppose the proposal.

Any change in speed limits or fines would have to be approved by the Legislature.

Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Deb Miller said the plan would affect 8 percent of Kansas roads.

Talking points

Do you think Veterans Day should be a prominent holiday?

Absolutely. We wouldn’t be able to sit here and eat lunch like this if it weren’t for the veterans. We’ve got millions of people that fought and died to save this country; it should be more than a bank holiday.

— Byron Arthur

More responses