Georgia lawmakers consider changing minimum speeds on highways

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives are considering increasing the minimum speed on state highways.

Currently, the minimum speed on Georgia highways is 40 mph, but speed limits vary by location and route.

Under House Bill 809, the minimum speed on some state highways would be increased to 50 mph.

Under the proposal, the minimum speed on any highway with a speed limit of 65 mph or more would be set to 50.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Georgia Department of Public Safety about the offer.

The department shared a letter sent by Commissioner William W. Hitchens, III to bill sponsor Rep. John Carson:

“As commissioner of the GA Department of Public Safety, I have no concerns about increasing the minimum speed limit on Georgia’s interstates. Our agency has seen many accidents on state roads caused by slow-moving vehicles. Driving below the speed limit can be just as dangerous in some cases as traveling above the posted speed limit. Vehicles traveling below the minimum speed can cause traffic problems, such as long backups, and cause drivers to take evasive actions as they approach the vehicle faster than expected. This is when negotiating hills and curves with poor visibility.” Accidents can also get worse on multi-lane roads when drivers change lanes to pass slower moving vehicles.

“While DPS does not experience many crashes based on minimum speed, the crashes we investigated appear to involve more serious damage and injuries due to speed difference.”

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