Thursday • October 26, 1995
State
Page 7 • The Battalion
Possible speed limit increase raises concerns JjErr 'voif||f
□ The speed limit could
be upped to 70 mph by
the end of the year, but
insurance rates may
speed too.
AUSTIN (AP) — A prelimi
nary state study suggesting the
speed limit could be boosted to
70 mph on portions of some in
terstate and major highways is
a deadly idea, insurers said
Wednesday.
“The two biggest contribu
tors to traffic accidents are ex
cessive speed and drinking and
driving. From the perspective of
public safety, it would appear
ludicrous to even casually con
sider raising the speed limit,”
said Jerry Johns, president of
the Southwestern Insurance In
formation Service.
Texas Department of Trans
portation engineers have sug
gested in a preliminary study
that a 70 mph speed limit would
be appropriate for stretches of
interstate and major highways
leading into and out of Houston,
Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco.
Similar speed limit studies for
highways surrounding Austin and
San Antonio aren’t yet complete.
Any raising of the speed lim
it would require Congress to re
peal the national speed limit
for interstates, now 55 mph in
urban areas and 65 mph
through rural areas.
Officials have said that
should Congress and state offi
cials move quickly, speed limits
could rise before Christmas.
Engineering studies now ar
riving at agency headquarters
are being prepared by the trans
portation department’s 25 dis
trict offices. The studies are de
signed to help the deliberations
of the three-member Texas
Transportation Commission
should Congress give states the
authority to raise speed limits.
“Our commissioners have said
that if and when they set these
speed limits, they want to have a
balance between convenience
and safety,” Bill Burnett, DOT
executive director, told the
Austin American-Statesman.
They also would strive for
consistency, he said. “We can’t
have the speed limit change
every time someone crosses the
county line.”
“We will work with cities and
DPS (Department of Public
Safety) in coming up with
speeds that we all are comfort
able with and will not put the
lives of the traveling Texas pub-
Jim’s Food Mart
lie in jeopardy,” he said.
About 61 percent of all traffic
in Texas travels on the state’s
8,091 miles of interstate and
major highways.
Insurance spokesman Johns
said many people already drive 3
mph to 5 mph over posted speed
limits on Texas highways, so
raising the limit to 70 would
mean that many people would be
driving 75 mph.
“A higher speed limit in Texas
will probably mean an increase
in traffic accidents and that
quite possibly could translate
into higher auto insurance
rates,” Johns said.
“At a time when insurers are
actively encouraging safe driving
habits to help save lives and re
duce insurance costs for their
customers, any increase in the
speed limit is in direct contrast
to those efforts,” he said.
Did you hear the news?
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OCA is having a Dinner Club Frii
Oct. 27 @ 6:30 at the Cow Hop.
Come fire up with us as we prepare to
BEAT THE HELL OUTTA’ HOUS r
► vYAPOS J* „
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University at Texas Ave.
^ 846-5007
Our beer prices are some of the lowest in the area!
,<> 18 pk $10.59
12 pk $ 7.49
“and”
The friendliest cashiers in town!! <
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Our Sorority of the Month, Delta Zeta, will be
holding a car wash here on
Friday, October 29th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Come out and support their fundraising activities at.....
Jim’s Food Mart
A New Aggie Tradition.
SIGMA PHI EPSILON
Presents Their 2nd Annual
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$&>
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October 27, 28, 29 & 31
behind the WOLF PEN bowling alleys
Doors open at
8:00 p.m.
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Benefitting
Scotty s
House
TICKETS
$4.00 Advance
$5*00 At Door
$1 Off with CAN GOOD
Available at
DISC GO ROUND
& DITTO’S
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OH4JNE REAL ESTATE SERVICES. INC.
Wolf Pen
Bowling Center
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Pantry
FOODS
Natural Bridge Boer Goats
NATURAL BRIDGE CAVERNS
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THURSDAY
Head West
2.75 pitchers, SfK bar 8-10
FRIDAY
Reece Whitley
Featuring members from
Sammy Hagar, Mister Mister, Janet Jackson.
Saturday
SmasHmoutH opens for
Push Monkey
- ' Ladies 9{igftt
Houston/ ATM
yjgj Doors open at noon. Game at 1:00
Food/Drink Specials
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