Drivers react to 75 mph speed limit on some Ohio highways

Just two years after the speed limit was increased to 70 miles per hour on some Ohio highways, lawmakers are considering raising it again.
The 75 mph speed limit would apply to the turnpike and rural interstates. In 2013 the limit was raised from 65 to 70.
Ohio State Highway Patrol records show that the turnpike had 2,380 crashes that year, down from 2,598 in 2012. The concern of some is that motorists will still push the limit.
"They will go 80, push 85 on the highway and not pay attention to traffic around them," said Luke March of Warren during his lunch break at Quaker Steak & Lube.
Others, like Crystal Wright of Youngstown still are not comfortable with the last increase.
"When I drive to Cleveland I think that 70 is still a little bit to fast," Wright said.
Even truckers have mixed feelings about raising the limit to 75. Mike David, a driver from Arizona says he gets paid by the mile. "So that means the faster I can get to where I'm going the more miles I can get," said David.
But New York trucker Juan Ortiz has a different view. "It's probably good for the turnpike but anywhere else it would be reckless,” said Ortiz.
March says it's also a factor of how fast you can react to something in the road. "Should there be an accident and everyone's traveling 80 mph I think that could cause maybe more damage to everything," March said.
Studies have shown that the stopping difference between 70 and 75 mph is more than 30 feet. The State Highway Patrol says whether it's 55 or 75 it's still comes down to driver responsibility.
"We want everyone to be safe, we want everyone to go home at night, so regardless of what the speed limit is people need to make sure they are obeying the law and driving reasonable for the conditions," said Lt. Nakia Hendrix, Commander of the Canfield post of the Ohio Highway Patrol.
The speed limit increase is one part of a state transportation budget that passed the senate but failed in the house. The differences will now being worked out in a conference committee.