Some Oregon highway speed limits rise March 1. Drivers please stay safe.

On Tuesday, March 1, 2016, a law goes into effect that will see speed limits rise on most of I-84 as well as on many rural highways in Oregon.

From The Oregonian/OregonLive:

The speed limit on I-84 from the Idaho border to The Dalles — and Interstate 82, connecting I-84 to Washington state — will rise from 65 to 75 mph, and from 60 to 65 mph for trucks…

Eight other highways will see speeds rise from 55 to 65 mph, and to 60 mph for trucks. They include stretches: U.S. 20, U.S. 26, U.S. 97, U.S. 197, U.S. 395, Oregon 31, Oregon 78 and Oregon 205.

The Portland metro area and the I-5 corridor will not be affected as a result of the impending changes.

Here at Schauermann Thayer, we aim to inform with an eye toward making our community safer. As you know, when cars are moving at higher speeds this reduces drivers' time to react. This makes a collision more likely to occur. Further, Ken Kolosh, the head of the nonprofit National Safety Council's statistics department, told The Oregonian/OregonLive, “Even with safer automobiles, the increased speed does increase the severity of crashes when crashes do occur.  The roads with higher speed limits are most at risk for fatal crashes. It's really just a question of physics.”

Our take? It's called a speed limit – the name itself suggests that drivers are perfectly within their rights not to push the limit. Drive at a speed (under the limit) that feels comfortable and safe for you.

Safe travels!