Bill Tracker: HB 586 – Too Fast for Texas

For many of us, the posted speed limit is more of a “guideline,” to borrow a phrase from Pirates of the Caribbean. Over the course of a couple of years, we may find ourselves having an unwanted conversation with a DPS trooper. And we all know that if we properly time our bad driving behavior, we are rewarded with those two insurance-saving words, “defensive driving.”

HB 586 says 95 mph is too fast. It is so fast that you should know better and you are not entitled to defensive driving. HB 586 also says that 25 mph over the speed limit is too fast in situations when the posted speed limit is lower.

Contrary to popular belief, there are no states without a maximum speed limit. West Texas has several 80 mph stretches. 80 mph is moving legally, but it may be time for us to reel in the top end of speeding.