Soon heavy trucks will be able to go 80 on some Idaho freeways, too. What to know

Starting July 1, heavy-duty trucks weighing more than 26,000 pounds can legally travel 80 mph on certain rural Idaho interstates, ending the state’s split speed limit system. The change has drawn pushback from truckers and some transportation officials who say it could create new safety risks.

FULL STORY: Heavy-duty trucks can soon go 80 on some Idaho freeways. Truckers have concerns

Here are key takeaways:

• Rep. Doug Pickett, R-Oakley, sponsored the bill to eliminate Idaho’s bifurcated speed limits, telling lawmakers that “differential speed kills” and citing a 2005 University of Arkansas study on the risks of vehicles traveling below or above average traffic speed. Idaho for years has allowed cars to go 80 mph on rural interstates but limited heavy trucks to 70.
• Allen Hodges, president of the Idaho Trucking Association, raised “grave safety concerns,” noting Idaho is one of two states that allows 129,000-pound loads. He said more than 70% of association members say they will not increase their speeds even with the new law.
• The Treasure Valley stretches affected include Interstate 84 west of Caldwell and east of Boise. Elsewhere in the state, sections of Interstate 86 and Interstate 15 will be affected.
• The Idaho Transportation Department board authorized the uniform 80 mph limit in a 3-2 vote Wednesday, with board chair Bill Moad saying he disagreed with the idea that having one speed limit would close the gap between cars and trucks. Board member Paul Franz also has reservations. “I just don’t see it being in the public’s best interest,” he said. “They’re not going to increase their speed. We don’t want them to.”
• Idaho State Police spokesperson Aaron Snell cautioned that trucks still require greater stopping distance and have significant blind spots, urging drivers not to assume traffic will move uniformly.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.