The Senate Transportation Committee passed legislation Thursday that could raise the speed limit on highways in Michigan to upwards of 80 miles per hour.
For 16 years, Robye Kay has ran her own business filling vending machines at area rest stops.
Riding at least 4,000 to 5,000 miles a day, Kay is not a fan of an increased speed limit because of distracted drivers.
“We see sitting in that big Dodge Ram van into everyone’s vehicle they're playing on their computers that are sitting on their seats, putting their make up on,” said Kay. “They don't pay attention.”
Because drivers speed anyway, other's don't see a problem.
“If you're going the speed limit that everyone else is going, you're at least going 80 to keep up with traffic,” said Connie Kruger. “Even in the slow lame someone is on your butt even if you're going 80.”
Lori Conarton with Insurance Institute of Michigan says if speed limits do change, some factors need to be kept in mind.
“In Michigan we have to look at the conditions of the roadways because 85 on one road may not be as safe on another,” said Conarton. “We need to look at engineer studies, speed studies, and also the condition of the roadway before we make those decisions.”
It could be some time before changes, if any, are made to speeding laws in Michigan.
Drivers tell us their biggest concern, texting while driving.
“You can see their phone right in front of them texting away and swerving in and out of the lane, it's crazy,” said Frank Hayward.
The legislation would allow MDOT and the state police to raise the speed limits only where conditions are met.
The house passed the bills last summer.
The Senate Transportation Committee did the same Thursday.
