Bill to change Nevada’s speed limit to 80 mph clears committee

By SANDRA CHEREB LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL CAPITAL BUREAU

10 years ago

Sparks Sen. Don Gustavson talks during the transportation committee hearing on raising the speed limit on some Nevada Highways to 85 mph Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in Carson City. (Tim Dunn/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Dennis Osborn with the Nevada Highway Patrol talks against a proposal to raise the speed limit on some Nevada highways to 85 mph during a transportation committee hearing Tuesday, March 10, 2015, in Carson City. Paul Enos with the Nevada Trucking Association, left, also spoke against the proposal. (Tim Dunn/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

CARSON CITY — The sponsor of a bill seeking to raise Nevada’s speed limit on some highways tapped the brakes Tuesday with an amendment lowering the permissible speed by 5 mph to 80 mph.

Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, said reducing the limit was an attempt to appease critics who testified 85 mph was too dangerous.

The Senate Transportation Committee accepted the amendment and unanimously passed the bill, sending it to the Senate floor.

Senate Bill 2 is enabling legislation that would allow the Nevada Department of Transportation to raise the speed limit on divided, largely rural highways to 80 mph if the agency determines it is safe.

Current law caps Nevada’s speed limit in those areas to 75 mph.

Critics said faster speed limits would lead to more fatalities and serious injuries in crashes.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.