Limit’s Back to 65 M.P.H. for Some Freeways

Gov. George Deukmejian on Thursday signed legislation raising the maximum speed limit to 65 m.p.h. for automobiles traveling on 1,157 miles of state highways.

The law will take effect on individual stretches of road as soon as Department of Transportation workers are able to post new speed limit signs.

The first of 600 new signs will be unveiled along Interstate 8 in San Diego County this morning. All the new signs should be posted within a week.

Affected Areas

The new 65 m.p.h. limit will govern 472 miles of Interstate 5 between Bakersfield and the Oregon border, 133 miles of Interstate 8 between El Cajon and the Arizona line, 155 miles of Interstate 10 from Beaumont to the Arizona line, 155 miles of Interstate 40 from Barstow to Arizona, and 181 miles of Interstate 15, including a stretch from San Bernardino to Baker.

State officials expect the new maximum to have only limited effect on drivers and traffic enforcement.

The law increases the limit to 65 m.p.h. for cars and recreational trucks only; commercial trucks with three or more axles, cars that are towing trailers, school buses and farm vehicles must still abide by the 55 m.p.h. limit.

Additionally, the increase takes effect only on arrow-straight, modern freeways in rural areas with little traffic--not on narrow roads, winding or hilly highways, or in urban areas.

The Legislature’s approval, and Deukmejian’s signing, of the speed limit law followed enactment by Congress in April of a national maximum of 65 m.p.h. for certain freeways. Congress’ action allowed states the option of raising the limits on interstate roadways.

Around the country, 65 m.p.h. and even 70 m.p.h. limits existed until 1974 when the 55 m.p.h. limit was imposed to conserve fuel in the midst of the Arab oil embargo.

When the lowered speed limit resulted in surprising savings in lives--the National Safety Council estimates that 80,000 people survived 55 m.p.h. accidents that would have proved fatal had they been driving at 65 m.p.h.--Congress resisted a return to the higher maximum.

In April, however, Western states that had agitated for a higher speed limit on their wide-open roads conquered the opposition of Eastern states. In the two months since Congress paved the way for higher speeds, 29 states have raised limits on some roads to 65 m.p.h.

More Deaths Feared

Critics contend that in following public demand for a higher maximum speed, Congress and legislatures are contributing to an increased death toll.

Although they had no state-by-state breakdown of the expected impact, the National Safety Council estimated that nationally 450 more traffic deaths will occur each year because of the higher limit.

But the California Highway Patrol, which supported the increase in rural speed limits, said deaths will not increase solely because of a formal change in the law.

“The change in driving speeds has already occurred,” said CHP spokesman Kent Milton. “Drivers moved up themselves.”

CHP statistics showed that 85% of California drivers were traveling 65 m.p.h. on the interstates before the speed limit was raised and that the remaining 15% were exceeding 65 m.p.h., he said.

Because of the increased speed limit, “there will be a little less pressure on us on rural freeways,” he said. “Rather than having 85% (violating the law) we will have 15%. We can concentrate on that 15%.”