Illinois rural routes: Semis going 65mph?
Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich rejected legislation allowing semi trucks to travel at 65 mph along rural interstates in Illinois.
Gov. Pat Quinn is taking into consideration.
The speed limit for semi trucks on illinois interstates is 55 mph. Illinois lawmakers gave the okay to a plan that allows semis to travel at 65 mph, the same speed as automobiles, on interstates outside of Chicago and the metro area of St. Louis.
Quinn has not made his position clear and no one from his office was available for comment.
Some groups believe that trucks moving at 65 mph, the same pace as the rest of the traffic on the road, is actually safer. Illinois Senators agreed and voted 40-8 in favor of the increase.
Opponents believe that it makes Illinois interstates less safe since a majority of truckers are currently driving over the 55mph limit.
Sate Senator Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawille, believes that increasing the speed limit to 65 mph for semis means that they would probably go faster, possibliy more than 70 mph.
"If they were to enforce the law at 65, theyd be for it," said Luechtefeld, who voted "no."
