80 MPH Speed Limit – Will Louisiana Be Next to Let You Drive That Fast?

(KMDL-FM) The posted speed. In Louisiana, as someone who regularly roams the highways and expressways of our state, I can tell you the posted speed is merely a suggestion. If you drive the speed limit on I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, you will be passed by just about every vehicle on the roadway.

There are some portions of the roadway, that stretch of I-10 between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, where the speed limit is actually reduced because of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. Notice I said the speed limit is reduced because the speed of traffic on that stretch of roadway still remains well above what is posted on the street signs.

How Fast is "Speeding" in Louisiana?

Lawmakers have made rumblings about controlling the speed on the basin, but so far they have only put up those electronic "Your Speed Signs," which some motorists see as a reason to drive even faster to get a "high score". The only thing that seems to slow down traffic, at least that I have seen, is a crash. Okay, I guess we could throw in road construction, too. But other than that, folks are not driving the posted speed.

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Maybe Louisiana should look at what North Dakota is doing as of August 1st. That state is joining Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming as states that have increased the speed limit on some multi-lane highways to 80 mph.

What States Have Speed Limits Higher than 70 MPH?

There are portions of Texas where the posted speed is actually 85 mph, and my "favorite" Texas speed limit is the area between Orange and Beaumont, where the speed limit goes up to 75 mph, but the area is always under construction.

As of now, we know of no particular legislation in the current session or pending sessions of the Louisiana legislature that would require speed limits to be raised. Perhaps we should get our roads and bridges fixed first before we allow people to drive even faster on them.

Will Speed Limits in Louisiana Be Raised Above 70 MPH?

And just remember, where there are higher posted speeds, there are higher fines for speeding. Of course, there are some towns where speeding is in the eye of the beholder. If you aren't familiar with some of Louisiana's favorite places to drive slowly, well, check out this list and save yourself some money.