Nevada Legislature: Senate approves raising speed limit

The Senate on Thursday passed Sen. Don Gustavson’s bill raising the maximum allowable speed limit in Nevada from 75 to 80 mph.

Gustavson has tried repeatedly in several previous sessions to get a bill raising the maximum speed limit without success.

This year, the Senate approved SB2 by a margin of 15-4 with two members absent.

Gustavson said the bill doesn’t actually raise the speed limit on any road of highway but, instead, leaves it to the Nevada Department of Transportation to decide where the higher speed limit would be appropriate.

In response to a question from Sen. Pat Spearman, D-Las Vegas, he also said there’s no danger the change will jeopardize federal highway funding to the state. He said several other states including Idaho, Wyoming and Texas already have higher speed limits on selected highways.

Gustavson, a retired truck driver, has long argued modern motor vehicles are safe at higher speeds than currently allowed.

SB2 goes to the Assembly for consideration.