Lawmaker: Speed limits should be increased in NJ

<p>A New Jersey state senator is calling for speed limits to be increased in the state.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jul 27, 2018, 2:04 AM

Updated 2,111 days ago

Share:

A New Jersey state senator is calling for speed limits to be increased in the state.
A study by the website WalletHub found that New Jersey ranks as the second-to-last state for “traffic and infrastructure.”
The study looked at such factors as heavy rush hour congestion and road quality.
State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon says that increasing the speed limit could improve the traffic in the Garden State. O’Scanlon says that speed limits in New Jersey should be determined based on the “85th Percentile Formula,” which says speed limits should be based on how fast 85 percent of drivers are traveling.
“Right now virtually 100 [percent] of our drivers on our under-posted, limited access highways are breaking the law. Either [they] are all homicidal maniacs, or our method of setting speed limits is seriously flawed,” O’Scanlon said.
Currently the maximum speed limit in New Jersey is 65 mph — among the slowest in the country.
Texas has a maximum speed limit of 85 mph. South Dakota, Wyoming and Idaho all have maximum limits of 80 mph.
O’Scanlon says that he is not necessarily asking for the speed limit to permanently increase in New Jersey, but to change based on traffic flow. 
The senator’s bill would also limit fines for speeding violations. If a diver is caught speeding on a roadway that hasn’t had a traffic study completed, the driver wouldn’t be fined more than $20. He says that studies have shown that raising and lowering speed limits has no effect on how fast people drive.


More from News 12
2:09
Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

Exclusive look at field and stadium built for Cricket World Cup at Eisenhower Park

1:37
STORM WATCH: Thunderstorms possible Wednesday morning on LI

STORM WATCH: Thunderstorms possible Wednesday morning on LI

0:31
Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington car crash

Family raises money to reunite Farmingdale HS sweethearts killed in Washington car crash

0:26
Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

Lindenhurst man sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars for burning women with clothing iron

1:47
Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

Man accused of killing NYPD detective from Massapequa Park indicted on murder charges

0:54
SBU faculty senate votes to demand that all charges be dropped for 29 arrested at protest

SBU faculty senate votes to demand that all charges be dropped for 29 arrested at protest

1:39
Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

Bee on the lookout: Bees are all the buzz at Shoreham-Wading River HS

0:44
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine addresses public safety, inflation in State of the County

2:27
Huntington Town Board hosting second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

Huntington Town Board hosting second public hearing on walkable downtown in Melville

1:38
Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

Sand delivered to Tobay Beach as crews work on opening access to the beach

2:03
Made on Long Island: Roxy’s Ice Cream Truck

Made on Long Island: Roxy’s Ice Cream Truck

1:29
Police identify woman killed in Centereach hit-and-run

Police identify woman killed in Centereach hit-and-run

3:07
LI man mistakenly declared dead by Social Security, leading to severe consequences

LI man mistakenly declared dead by Social Security, leading to severe consequences

1:54
Nassau police arrest accused jewelry thief wanted across the world

Nassau police arrest accused jewelry thief wanted across the world

1:41
$400 million boost in federal funds coming for security at places of worship

$400 million boost in federal funds coming for security at places of worship

2:06
’Survivor’ exhibit highlights 18 local Holocaust survivors

’Survivor’ exhibit highlights 18 local Holocaust survivors

0:22
Police: Driver wanted in fatal New Cassel hit-and-run

Police: Driver wanted in fatal New Cassel hit-and-run

0:53
Glen Cove Hospital holds clap-in for nurses to kick off National Nurses Week

Glen Cove Hospital holds clap-in for nurses to kick off National Nurses Week

2:23
Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park

Main Street Long Island: Showcasing the best of Massapequa Park

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos

Long Island National Teacher Appreciation Week Photos