ohio speed limit

Ohio lawmakers increased highway speeds to 70 mph in 2013 but won't likely follow Michigan's lead and increase them to 75 mph.

(Peggy Turbett, Plain Dealer file photo)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Michigan lawmakers voted Tuesday to raise the speed limit to 75 mph on select rural highways, but don't expect Ohio legislators to do the same anytime soon.

Ohio raised the speed limit from 65 to 70 mph on the Ohio Turnpike and rural highways in 2013. Two years later, Ohio Senators proposed raising the speed limit from 70 to 75 mph. But the provision was later removed due to safety concerns.

A legislative committee further investigated the issue and recommended against raising the limits in a December 2015 report.

The Ohio Department of Transportation warned then that Ohio's highways were built for cars traveling 70 mph and allowing greater speeds could make the state liable for accidents. ODOT spokesman Matt Bruning said that point has not changed.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder hasn't indicated whether he'll sign the bill or not.

Finding a safe speed

The Michigan increase would apply to 600 miles of rural, limited-access freeways if state transportation department safety and engineering studies deem it safe.

Part of that determination is how fast motorists are now driving on those highways. The "85th percentile rule" holds that the speed 85 percent of drivers already travel in ideal conditions is an accepted safe speed that results in fewer accidents.

Michigan transportation officials said several hundreds of miles of highway would be eligible.

In Ohio, the 85th percentile speed doesn't break 70 mph, according to ODOT data. And the 2013 increase from 65 to 70 mph only increased the 85th percentile by a couple miles per hour.

For example, the 85th percentile speed on I-90 through Ashtabula increased from 66 mph to 67 mph after the speed limit was bumped up to 70 mph.

Infrastructure and public safety concerns

Ohio's interstates were built for a 70 mph standard, officials said, and would have to be redesigned to handle faster traffic. Those changes would include lengthening exit ramps or extending curves, which could require costly land purchases.

The legislative committee also reviewed Ohio State Highway Patrol data showing a 13 percent increase in car accidents after speed limits were raised in 2013.

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission reported a 9 percent in crashes causing injury after the increase and a 12 percent increase overall.

Bruning said he hasn't heard of efforts to renew the push for 75.

"Good for Michigan, but that's not something Ohio's looking to do at this point," Bruning said.