The maximum speed limit on Florida highways could go up to 75 mph under a bill passed Wednesday in the state House.

The House approved the bill, 58-56.

Last week, the Senate voted 27-11 to pass the bill despite some concerns by lawmakers that the higher speed limit would make roads more dangerous.

The bill will now go to Gov. Rick Scott for his signature.     

The measure doesn't automatically raise the speed limits, but it would allow the Florida Department of Transportation to raise maximum speed limits to the following:

  • 75 mph on interstate and limited access highways (currently 70 mph)
  • 70 mph on rural, four-lane divided highways (currently 65 mph)
  • 65 mph on other roads.

Supporters of the higher speed limit say there's no evidence of a link between faster interstate traffic and an increase in crashes, but critics warned there will be if the bill becomes law.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, however, showed speed is a factor in 30 percent of traffic fatalities, and those numbers are higher in states with higher speed limits.

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Speed limits higher than 70 mph in the U.S.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety


Note: The speed limit in most of Texas is 75 mph. Sections of I-10 and I-20 in west Texas and sections of Highway 45 in Travis County have a speed limit for passenger cars and light trucks of 80 mph.

Speed limits of up to 85 mph may be established if the highway is originally constructed and designed to accommodate the higher speed and it has been determined by an engineering study to be reasonable and safe.

State Highway 130, a toll road, has a posted limit of 85 mph, effective October 2012.