Counties Support Additional Tool to Ensure Road Safety

On February 2, 2023, Associate Policy Director Dominic Butchko testified before the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 0094 – Vehicle Laws – Reduction of Speed Limits by Local Authorities.

This bill delegates to local authorities the ability to address public safety concerns in community areas where the 25 mile per hour standard might not adequately protect the welfare of drivers or pedestrians. By enabling localities to lower the speed limit below this standard to a minimum of 15 miles per hour, HB 0094 equips counties with an additional tool and the requisite flexibility to ensure the well-being of their constituents.

From the MACo Testimony:

Counties handle a wide range of road safety and maintenance responsibilities. These responsibilities include building and maintaining roads, distributing de-icing agents before a storm, plowing, speed enforcement, responding to accidents, planning and zoning approvals, etc. Establishing speed limits is already a local responsibility, governed by best practices, but the current state law limits the lower bounds of that local authority to 25 miles per hour, other than in Montgomery County and its municipalities.