Lead-foot drivers can start flexing their muscles. A proposal endorsed by Gov. Bob McDonnell to raise the speed limit on Virginia interstate highways to 70 mph won preliminary approval Monday in the House and Senate.
In the House, HB 856, sponsored by Del. Charles Carrico, R-Galax, was approved on a voice vote after a brief debate. In the Senate, a parallel measure, SB 537, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Newman, R-Lynchburg, sailed through with no discussion.
Both will be up for final approval today.
The top speed limit on Virginia highways is 65 mph except for a stretch of Interstate 85 between Petersburg and the North Carolina border.
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This is so important!
Wasting tax payer's money on voting to increase the speed limit to 70..that is just typical for a bunch of over-paid exotic morons who 'serve selflessly'.What about crumbling infrastructure, potholes and the increased jobless rate in Virginia?
These people are not worth their weight in Big Mac sandwiches if paid as consultants.
A boon for Hospitals, car repairs and EMS companies. I wonder how much their bribes cost? If it's 70 you KNOW it you'll be run over @ 75.
I thought that getting Americans off foreign oil was paramount?
Spe-e-e-d!
This is just a way to reduce traffic congestion. With everyone doing the 70 limit + the usual unenforced 9 MPH over, the traffic will self destruct. Less traffic will reduce the need for highway maintenance, thus saving the commonwealth money. Business for body shops and mortuarys will increase, thus fulfilling the more jobs promise. In the words of an old Nam era song, "Whoopee! We're all gonna die"
Sorry folks
Your "green" movement is dead and we now all know global warming is a hoax.
Stick with the safety side of the argument because you lose people when you start bringing up oil consumption and drilling off the coast.
"Lose people"?
You're already lost. Think the world's oil supply is infinite, do you?
Incredibly irresponsible!
I find it hard to believe that in an age where even auto manufacturers are finally starting to realize "less is better" (as in size of vehicles and their use of gas), the commonwealth believe raising the speed limit is warranted. WHY? How about a decrease to 55 and better enforcement??
ZOOOOOOOOOOOM, CRAAAAAAAAAAAASH!
"endorsed by Gov. Bob McDonnell to raise the speed limit on Virginia interstate highways to 70"
Time for more BLOOD on the commonwealth highways.
Is one of your family members going to be a victim of this new law?
2nd Amendment rights...
equals BLOOD ON THE STREETS!!!
Raising speed limits equials BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAYS!!!
Shoddy snow plowing equals BLOOD ON THE STREETS!!! AND NEIGHBORHOODS!!!
Blah blah blah blah blah.
BLOOD EVERYWHERE!!!!
It's just really getting sad and pathetic hearing you liberals prophetize that BLOOD WILL BE EVERYWHERE....and it never happens.
Of Course he did!
First the under the table deal with the oil companies to put Oil Rigs off our coast, then the under the table dear to side with corporate lobbyist to destroy the Menhaden population, and now another deal with the oil companies to help spend more on gas during a broken economy. This Pat Robertson bought governor is a corporate thug that will destroy Virginia!
Lets just nix...
...that 70 mph speed limit. I thoroughly enjoyed driving 55 (all the way in right lane I might add) and enjoyed the fuel savings I got. I laughed as people blew by me, but I believe I got the last laugh on them I saved a lot of money in fuel costs. If the 70 mph does pass...that still makes minimum speed on interstates 55 right? Better start putting signs up...slower traffic to the right...
You are...
still welcome to drive 55. And common road courtesy dictates slow traffic to the right even when there aren't any signs.
But living around here, you probably do not know of common road courtesy.
Yeah
Let's do that. Raise the speed limit so that folks can use more gas....then impose a gas tax....that should take care of that nasty state deficit. Plus it will ensure that whenever there's a wreck...someone will die. Thanks VA for caring that we get to our destinations quick, fast and in a hurry.
Raise it to 90
Raise it all the way up to 90. That way people are using way more gas (paying more gas tax) and getting into more wrecks (buying more cars). Seriously, WHO CARES? Everyone here drives at least 70 on the interstates but usually a lot more.
Are you serious?
Resorting to name calling? And you call yourself a newspaper?