Nevada Committee Passes Bill to Boost Speed Limit to 80 MPH

A Senate committee has passed a bill that would allow a higher maximum speed on some Nevada highways.

The Senate Transportation Committee unanimously passed SB2 on Tuesday. It now heads to the Senate floor.

The bill originally called for a top speed of 85 mph, but Republican bill sponsor Sen. Don Gustavson asked that the limit be lowered to 80 mph because some people were uncomfortable with the higher speed.

Existing Nevada law allows a top speed of 75 mph. Gustavson said raising speed limits would help truckers and cut down on travel fatigue for all drivers.

A number of police agencies and the state transportation department testified against the bill and said it could increase fatal crashes.

Only Utah and Texas have speed limits exceeding 75 miles per hour.