
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, November 30, 1995                   TAG: 9511300044
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

ALLEN ANTICIPATES SPEED-LIMIT MOVE

The 1996 General Assembly might be willing to raise the speed limit on some rural interstate highways in Virginia to 70 mph, Gov. George Allen said Wednesday.

President Clinton signed legislation Tuesday repealing the federal law setting interstate speed limits. States now will set their own speed limits.

``The people of Virginia and any other state can better decide what the speed limit should be than the federal bureaucracy,'' Allen told a caller to his monthly radio show.

He said he expects bills to be filed for raising the speed limit when the General Assembly convenes in January.

``On stretches of road where it is appropriate, 70 miles an hour might get through the General Assembly,'' he said. ``I don't foresee anything but very modest changes.''

Del. V. Earl Dickinson, D-Louisa, chairman of the House of Delegates committee that would consider speed limit legislation, predicted vigorous debate.

He noted that the legislature in 1994 raised the speed limit for large trucks on rural interstates from 55 to 65 mph. Studies have shown it is safer for all traffic to travel the same speed.

``There would be a reluctance to move automobiles to 70 miles an hour with trucks remaining at 65,'' Dickinson said. ``Then there would be those who would say trucks shouldn't be allowed to go 70 because the braking distance for an 80,000-pound truck would be much greater.''

John Undeland, a spokesman for AAA Potomac, said he would not be surprised to see the speed limit slightly increased on rural interstates. The northern Virginia automobile club lobbies the General Assembly on issues affecting motorists but has taken no position on raising the speed limit.

``We're not predicting any radical change,'' Undeland said. ``Most of our roads are heavily congested, there are a lot of interchanges and a lot of hilly areas. The Montana speeds are not safe here.''

Montana will have no specific speed limit after the new federal law takes effect Dec. 8.

Allen said speed limits should be raised only after traffic volume, highway engineering specifications and other safety matters are considered.

by CNB