Arizona Republican wants to eliminate daylight speed limits on rural highways because ‘God has given us free will to make smart or stupid decisions’ – Jalopnik

Many drivers in need of speed lamented the demise of the “Montanabahn,” the period between 1995 and 1999 when the daytime speed limit on many of Montana’s highways was simply “reasonable and prudent.” You could pass a cop by three figures, as long as you did it safely. Arizona State Rep. Nick Kupper has introduced legislation that, if passed, would introduce a similar law for the Grand Canyon State, reports Arizona Daily Independentcreating what I will call the Zonabahn on rural highways throughout the state.

House Bill 2059the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act, would allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to designate daytime speed zones for non-commercial vehicles. You couldn’t shoot through Phoenix or Tucson, but most Arizona highways are outside of heavily populated areas and could qualify. There would be a speed limit of 80 mph at night, which is still higher than the current limit of 75 mph, putting Arizona at the top of our list of states where motorists can reach the fastest speeds. If passed, another proposal to allow speed limiters instead of revoking driver’s license for speeding may no longer be relevant on these highways.

There are some conditions attached to this deregulation. Highways eligible for delisting must undergo annual safety audits to ensure they have not become less safe. Drivers must stay in the right lane except to pass all the law Anyway. It is still possible to be ticketed in restricted zones if the officer believes the speed is not reasonable or prudent given the current weather or traffic conditions, the driver’s reaction time and the condition of the vehicle.

While Kupper isn’t hoping for an increase in traffic casualties, he does believe in a style of legislation that can best be described as letting Jesus take the wheel, saying, “God has given us free will to make smart or stupid decisions,” he said. AZ Central.

Arizona has no safety inspections. What could possibly go wrong with uninspected vehicles in who knows what condition shooting across the desert at high speed? But not everyone would drive fast. The RAPID Act would only eliminate speed limits for non-commercial vehicles, meaning trucks and other commercial vehicles would still be required to obey them. People are already flying behind trucks traveling 65 or 70 meters, at speeds considerably higher than the existing limit of 120 km/h. Removing that upper limit would further increase that speed difference, and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association cites studies showing that a greater speed difference increases the risk of a truck accident.

Many Arizona highways are simply not in good condition for higher speeds. Truck drivers call Arizona’s Interstate 40 one of the worst highways in the US. I would rate portions of Interstate 10 not far behind due to the poorly grooved pavement in many areas, mostly in the right lane where trucks usually travel. I can’t imagine hitting these ruts and bumps at 90 or 100 mph or more.

Finally, there’s the issue that ultimately led to the demise of Montana’s “reasonable and prudent” speed law, which Representative Kupper may have overlooked when he modeled his law after it. According to Car And DriverRudy Stanko fought an 85 mph speeding ticket all the way to the Montana Supreme Court in 1996. It ruled in Stanko’s favor, saying the “reasonable and prudent” speed limit was too vague, and that it “improperly delegated basic policy matters to police officers, judges and juries for resolution on an ad hoc and subjective basis.” There is nothing in the RAPID Act that would stop a similar legal challenge if it passes. If so, enjoy the Zonabahn while you can, but don’t expect it to last forever.