Advocates has weighed in to oppose House Bill 74 in a letter to the Mississippi Senate Highways and Transportation Committee. The legislation would increase the speed limit to 70 miles per hour (mph) on highways and 75 mph on interstate highways and access-controlled highways with four or more lanes, endangering state residents and visitors.
In 2023 an estimated 715 people were killed in traffic crashes in Mississippi, an 18 percent increase over the ten year period since 2014. Speeding is a major factor leading to traffic fatalities, contributing to 20 percent (139) of traffic fatalities in the state in 2022.
Advancing HB 74 will cause more death and destruction on Mississippi roads. We urge members to reject this legislation and prioritize the safety of Mississippi families.
Read the full letter here.