Texas State Legislations Propose Allowing Cities to Reduce Speed Limits
Texas State Bills Would Let Cities Lower Speed Limits
Summary :
Proposed bills in Texas may make it easier for local governments to lower speed limits on residential streets from 25 mph to 20 mph. The bills would allow cities to bypass the need for costly traffic studies when reducing speed limits. Supporters of the bills argue that lower speed limits can improve road safety by reducing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities. A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the risk of pedestrian death increases with higher speeds on the road.
Description :
Cities may soon be able to lower residential speed limits to 20 miles per hour without conducting costly traffic studies, thanks to new legislation being proposed in the Texas state legislature.
Under current Texas state law, cities are allowed to reduce speed limits in residential areas to 25 miles per hour, but only after expending time and money on traffic studies. However, Senate Bill 1663 and its counterpart bill in the state House aim to remove these requirements.
Advocates for road safety argue that lower speed limits have been proven to reduce the risk of serious injuries and deaths in collisions. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted a study that found that higher speeds on the road increase the risk of pedestrian deaths, with a 10% risk of death at 23 mph that jumps to 25% at 35 mph.
sources:
1- melk360.com ,Texas State Bills Would Let Cities Lower Speed Limits ,2023-04-18 14:00:00
2- https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023/04/122673-texas-state-bills-would-let-cities-lower-speed-limits?rand=493
