Woo hoo! Vilsack raises Iowa interstate speed limit

In a victory for everyone that finds themselves traveling I-80 anywhere in Iowa, which has got to be one of the most stupifyingly dull stretches of road in the known universe, and other Iowa highways, governor Tom Vilsack has signed into law a measure raising the speed limit on rural interstate highways from 65 to 70 mph.

The measure also doubles the existing fines and court costs for speeding tickets, but only in areas where the posted limit is in excess of 55 mph. For driving 10 mph over the limit, the fine would go from $43 to $82. The law is expected to bring in about $7 million to fund courts and $600,000 for the state’s general fund. And cops will no longer give wiggle room on speed.

Vilsack said he is directing the Iowa State Patrol to enforce the new limit strictly rather than the current, unofficial practice of allowing drivers to go 5 to 7 mph over the limit before ticketing.

“The posted speed limit is the limit,” he said.

Until now, most motorists traveled around 75 mph, risking a $43 fine, but rarely getting pulled over. Now for driving that fast, they'll be targeted for being pulled over and pay $82.

So in essence, this measure will result in more tickets issued and more revenue, and will actually slow highway traffic from an average of 75 to 70 mph. Not bad from the state's standpoint.

In my opinion a system like the Autobahn in Germany would be the ideal.

Many sections, particularly those with dangerous curves, in urban areas, or with unusually constant heavy traffic, may feature speed limits ranging from 80 to 120 km/h (50-75 mph). In construction zones, the limit may be as low as 60 km/h (37 mph). Also, some sections now feature nighttime and wet-weather speed restrictions, and trucks are always regulated (see table below). Still, much of the Autobahn is unlimited, but there is a recommended limit of 130 km/h (81 mph). This recommendation is generally seen for what it is-- an attempt by the government to cover itself without having to upset millions of Porsche and BMW owners/voters. However, if you exceed the recommended limit and are involved in an accident, you could be responsible for some of the damage costs even if you are not at fault.

The Iowa law is at least a teeny-tiny step in the right direction, even though it effectively makes it more risky to travel 75 mph and not get pinched.