COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 75
By Delegates Walters, Maynard, Folk, McGeehan, Dean, Ambler, Bates, Blair, Boggs, Butler, Byrd, Canestraro, Cooper, Criss, Deem, Diserio, Eldridge, A. Evans, E. Evans, Fluharty, G. Foster, Sypolt, Hamilton, Hamrick, Harshbarger, Hartman, Hollen, Hornbuckle, Householder, Howell, Lane, Lewis, Longstreth, Love, Lynch, Marcum, C. Miller, R. Miller, Moore, Moye, Nelson, Overington, Paynter, Phillips, Pushkin, Robinson, Rodighiero, Rowe, Sponaugle, Upson, Westfall, Wilson and Zatezalo
Originating in the Committee on Roads and Transportation
Requesting the Commissioner of Highways to increase the speed limit on controlled access highways and interstate highways in rural areas to 75 miles per hour where appropriate.
Whereas, The maximum speed limit on any West Virginia highway is currently 70 miles per hour; and
Whereas, There is no specific statutory restriction on the maximum speed limit in terms of specific miles per hour speed restrictions that may be established and posted on controlled access highways and interstate highways; and
Whereas, The Commissioner of Highways has the authority to determine and establish posted speed limits on controlled access and interstate highways, subject to the requirements of article six, chapter seventeen-c of the Code of West Virginia; and
Whereas, At least sixteen other states have speed limits of 75 miles per hour on interstate highways, at least in rural areas, and at least four of those states have speed limits of up to 80 miles per hour; and
Whereas, Historically, the power to set speed limits belonged to the states and before the National Maximum Speed Law that was included in the 1974 Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act that prohibited speed limits above 55 miles per hour was enacted, speed limits on controlled access highways and interstate highways nationally were as high as 75 miles per hour and was generally 70 miles per hour in West Virginia; and
Whereas, since 1995, there has been no federal restrictions on speed limits on controlled access highways and interstate highways; and
Whereas, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, when controlled access and interstate highways became prevalent in West Virginia and nationally, the speed limit of 70 miles per hour was considered prudent and safe for motor vehicles traveling on those highways; and
Whereas, the safety characteristics and features of motor vehicles today far surpass motor vehicles manufactured in the 1950’s and 1960’s; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Commissioner of Highways is requested to increase the speed limit on controlled access highways and interstate highways in rural areas to 75 miles per hour where appropriate; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of Highways.