This State Aims to Eliminate Daytime Speed Limits on Certain Highways | Carscoops

      Arizona’s RAPID Act would permit unrestricted daytime speeds on rural interstates after safety evaluations.

      16 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      An Arizona bill suggests eliminating daytime speed limits on rural interstates.

      A pilot program will start on Interstate 8, adhering to strict safety guidelines.

      Data from Montana indicates that driver behavior is more impactful than speed limits.

      Speed limits are not designed for the most skilled drivers in the fastest cars on the clearest roads; in fact, the opposite often holds true. Traffic engineers regularly recognize that speed limits must consider less adept drivers. Those individuals might want to avoid Arizona's rural interstates if State Rep. Nick Kupper has his way.

      He is suggesting that specific open sections of rural interstates should have no maximum daytime speed. In essence, something fast could be approaching quickly in the rearview mirror.

      A Controlled Approach to Unlimited Speed

      Referred to as the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act, the bill (HB 2059) would empower the Arizona Department of Transportation to label selected rural interstate segments as “derestricted speed zones.”

      These zones would be restricted to areas outside urban places with populations over 50,000 and only during daylight hours. A strict 80 mph limit would still apply at night.

      According to the proposal, ADOT would not implement this change randomly. Any highway segment eligible for this designation would have to pass engineering and traffic assessments, comply with high-speed road design requirements, and demonstrate a crash rate below the statewide average for the last five years.

      Additionally, a significant exception exists, as commercial vehicles, including trucks, would still be required to adhere to the standard 80 mph limit or lower, irrespective of time or location.

      Montana as a Case Study

      Kupper cites Montana as evidence that this idea can be effective. “Montana demonstrated that speed laws can be modernized without compromising safety,” Kupper stated. “When regulations are clear and focus on driver behavior, states can allow safe highways to function as intended.”

      According to AZ Free News, a legislative audit in Montana revealed that while average speeds increased after the removal of daytime limits, crash and fatality rates per vehicle mile traveled continued to decrease and remained consistent with neighboring states.

      The key insight from the study centered on driving habits rather than numerical limits on signs. Seatbelt usage and overall driver behavior influenced outcomes more than the stated speed.

      “Most drivers can distinguish between a busy city freeway and an open rural interstate,” Kupper remarked. “The RAPID Act acknowledges that distinction.” HB 2059 will be formally considered once the legislative session begins in 2026.

      Sources: House Bill 2059, AZ Free News