House Bill 2450 proposes increasing the speed limits on separated multi-lane highways in Kansas designated by the Kansas Department of Transportation, from 75 mph to 80 mph.

The bill is currently sitting in a legislative committee, a decision of whether it goes to the full house could be made sometime next week.

Lonnie Clark, 65th District Representative says he was approached by the Representative in support of the bill who explained the theory behind it is,”is that the trucks all drive 80 anyways.”

Clark isn’t sure how the bill will go if it is put before the full house, but he hasn’t talked to very many people in favor of the bill.

“To me I think it’s a useless bill. From all intent and purpose, you raise the speed limit to 80, everybody’s going to drive 85. Right now it’s 75 and most people drive 80,” says Clark. “I don’t see the point in it, unless you want to turn it into an autobahn, and I think that’s going to create more accidents, increased insurance rates, and probably deaths.”

Clark went on to make it clear that he will not vote for the bill if it is ever introduced.

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Kansas Highway Patrol have both provided written testimony opposing the bill. Both groups expressed concerns about highway safety if the speed limit were to increase.