New York drivers may soon be able to hit the road at a faster pace. A new bill proposed by state Senator Thomas O’Mara would raise the speed limit on certain highways from 65 miles per hour to 70.
Under current state law, the speed limit on roads, highways, parkways and bridges is capped at 55 miles per hour, while on certain highways like interstates, it increases to 65 miles per hour. Senate Bill S2209 proposes to increase the limit to 70 for highways that meet the criteria set by the Department of Transportation.
If the bill passes, the new cap would go into effect immediately, and the DOT would be able to change the speed limit signs accordingly. However, the bill is still in committee, awaiting review.
In addition to the proposed speed limit increase, Senate Bill S9528 mandates the installation of speed-limiting technology in all new vehicles. The technology would monitor a vehicle’s location and prevent drivers from exceeding the mandated speed limit for a given road.
Both bills have a number of steps to complete before becoming law. As of now, drivers are limited to speeds of 55 and 65 miles per hour, assuming they choose to follow the limit.
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