RAPID Act Could Make Speeding in One State Perfectly Legal

Driving the arrow-straight highways that connect America’s vast plains can be decidedly boring, particularly when the speed limits seem to extend the journey – and drivers’ boredom. But if Arizona Rep. Nick Kupper has his way, the drive could become a little less mundane, especially if you’re in something fast like a ZR1. He has authored a bill (HB2059) that could remove speed limits on certain rural roads during the day and allow limits of up to 80 mph at night. Fox 10 reports that the new RAPID Act (Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving Act) is intended to promote the message of trusting your fellow driver, and Kupper told the outlet that his idea is based on similarly successful practices in Montana and Germany.

A Pilot Period to Test the Idea

Kupper argues that, in these derestricted zones in Montana and Germany, “roughly 83% of drivers stayed around 77 mph because that’s where they feel comfortable,” adding that drivers keeping a closer relative speed to each other compared to limited zones “is a major factor in why these zones are actually safer.” However, there’s a long way to go before the House Bill 2059 is passed; first, there will be a year-long pilot program along a section of I-8. If all goes well there, other sections of qualifying interstate road could be derestricted. To qualify for no speed limit, the RAPID Act says that a road would have to be “outside an urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more persons” and must have a crash rate over the last five years below the statewide average. Furthermore, the roads would need sufficient infrastructure, and the bill asks state highway and transportation officials to set the standards for what would be acceptable.

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But drivers would still need to behave responsibly: “A person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, conditions, and actual and potential hazards then existing,” notes The Drive. “A person shall control the speed of a vehicle as necessary to avoid colliding with any object, person, vehicle or other conveyance on, entering or adjacent to the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to exercise reasonable care for the protection of others.”

Is Removing Speed Limits Safe?

According to a report cited by The Autopian, statistics show that most of Germany’s roadway fatalities happen on rural roads and not major Autobahns, indicating that derestricted roadways may have a safety benefit. On the other hand, the European Transport Safety Council did research showing that a speed limit would save 140 lives per year. Essentially, it comes down to how citizens use the derestricted roads. If everybody is doing 80 mph, there’s little chance of a crash, but if somebody traveling at that speed (or higher) is driving an unroadworthy vehicle or otherwise behaving recklessly, the consequences could be dire – even on a long, straight piece of road like I-8. This bill is sure to spark debate, and we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.