Texas approves 85 MPH on toll road

Texas approves 85 MPH

A new stretch of road in Texas will have a posted speed limit of 85 MPH. 85 MPH!

Mind you this is not everywhere, it is only on a certain stretch of a toll road.

The Texas Department of transportation (TxDOT) hopes that this increase in speed will pull drivers away from more congested roads.

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According to the Texas Tribune, the 40 miles will be along the soon to be built Texas 130 from Austin to Seguin will have a very fast speed limit of 85 MPH.

That segment of road is officially knowns as Sectors 5 and 6.

The tool road is expected to be open on November 11 however the SH 130 Concession Company, that is building the stretch said it may open earlier.

Although it is a very attractive idea to many to be whizzing by at a blazingly fast speed of 85 MPH, some wonder whether this is a “safe” speed.

Will there be an increase in accidents?

Mark Cross, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has said that their studies have shown that it is safe.

They also received a hefty bonus of $100 million.

What about car insurance premiums? Could they increase for people that are known to use this stretch of road?

That remains to be seen but if the TxDot has deemed the toll road safe, there might not be any recourse.

Although Texas approves 85 MPH, it is still not yet implemented.  Once the stretch of highway does open in November or earlier, Texas can then boast that they have the fastest legal limit in the US.

If you want to know what the highest legal speed limits are in your state, you can visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a non-profit organization that posts the maximum speed limits by state.

Now that Texas approves 85 MPH, there have been a lot of comparisons to the German Autobahn system that stretches over 6,500 miles of road but there are some key differences between two.

Texas may be the fastest toll road in the US but the German Autobahn still holds the record for having no speed limit posted only “recommended” speeds for most portions of the Autobahn.

Related articles

• You can drive 85 – in Texas
• Texas to open fastest US highway with 85 mph limit

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