Each day, people throughout the state take to the Pennsylvania Turnpike to get from one place to another, safely, without being involved in a car accident. Many regular drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike are likely excited to hear about the possible increase of the speed limit on the road from 65 mph to 70 mph. The Pennsylvania State House is currently considering a bill that would do just that. So far it has been approved by the chamber's transportation committee.

If it passes, this will not be the first time the speed limit on parts of the road has been increased. In both 1995 and 1996, certain portions of the road were increased from 55 mph to 65 mph. The new proposal comes after a variety of steps were taken to make the road safer. In addition to widening parts of the road, banks that were once quite steep have since been lowered and curvy portions of the road made straighter. While the increase in the speed limit would undoubtedly get drivers from one point to another more quickly, there are potential drawbacks to the increase.

The biggest reason against the change is simple-safety. This is an issue for despite the changes made to the road. This is undoubtedly due at least in part to a study that was released by the Governors Highway Safety Association earlier this year. The report indicated that speeding played a role in close to a third of the car accidents that ended in death in 2010.

Some have suggested an engineering study could help provide the information necessary to make such a decision. We will monitor the issue and post relevant updates as they become available.

Source: The Patriot-News, "Is it time to raise the speed limit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to 70?" Jan Murphy, May 16, 2012