By a 27-11 vote, senators gave the Department of Transportation the leeway to decide where the speed limit can rise from 70 to 75 on about 1,500 miles of roadway on Interstate 75, I-95, I-10, I-4, Florida’s Turnpike and the Suncoast Parkway.
What’s the big deal, proponents wondered.
“Many of us are already driving at that level,” said Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, sponsor of the bill, SB 392. Speed limits also could rise by 5 miles per hour on roads where it’s now 60 or 65 mph.
Supporters dismissed opponents’ arguments that speed kills and that it’s dangerous to encourage people to drive faster in a state with so many elderly motorists and tourists.
“We’re a tourist state. We want people to slow down, not speed up,” said Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville.
With one week left in the 2014 session, attention turns to the House where a similar measure, HB 761, has been stalled for about two weeks. After the Senate vote, though, Speaker Will Weatherford said he expects to take it up.
