Idaho's senate is considering SB 1082, a bill that wouldincrease the speed limit on the state's highways from 65 miles perhour to 75 mph.

The change could exact a toll on Idaho's citizens in lost lives,more severe traffic crash injuries, and increased medical costs,according to the American Insurance Association. “Speeding reducesthe time that drivers have to avoid crashes and lengthens stoppingdistances, increasing both the likelihood of crashing and theseverity of the crashes that occur,” said David Snyder, AIA vicepresident and assistant general counsel.

The AIA cited statistics from the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration indicating that speeding is one of the mostprevalent reported factors associated with crashes. Speeding is afactor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes, killing an average of1,000 Americans every month, according to NHTSA. In 2002, more than13,000 people died in speed-related crashes. NHTSA estimates theeconomic cost to society of speed-related crashes to be more than$40 billion each year.

“The risk of death and severe injury is a direct exponentialfunction of speed,” said Snyder. “And, in reality, raising thespeed limit means that real speeds will be 85 mph, far beyond theability of car safety systems to prevent serious injuries. Theseinjuries will result in more victims and unnecessary medical costsand productivity losses paid for by the state's employers,taxpayers, and insurance consumers.”

The National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 repealed themaximum speed limit, allowing states to set their own limits forthe first time since 1974. Many states raised speed limits on bothrural and urban interstates and limited access roads. As of June2003, 29 states had raised speed limits to 70 mph or higher on someportion of their roadway systems.