HBA-MPA H.B. 676 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 676
By: Isett
Transportation
3/29/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law sets different speed limits for trucks and
automobiles.  Automobiles can travel at speeds up to 70 miles per hour
(mph) during the day and 65 mph at night, but trucks are limited to speeds
of 60 mph during the day and 55 mph at night.  The U.S. Department of
Transportation reported that crash involvement rates are almost six times
greater for vehicles traveling 10 mph below or above the average speed
limit.  The findings of the 1994 report also show that the proportion of
car-truck, rear-end collisions was 26 percent greater when compared to
uniform speed limit states, and collisions were more likely to involve cars
striking trucks.  The surrounding states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New
Mexico, and Oklahoma, do not have differential speed limits.  H.B. 676
makes the speed limit the same for automobiles and trucks. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 545.352(b), Transportation Code, to delete, in a
provision addressing vehicles that may travel at 70 miles per hour (mph)
during daylight and 65 mph at night, reference to a passenger car,
motorcycle, passenger car or light truck towing a trailer, or trailer
bearing a vessel less than 26 feet long, or semitrailer used to transport
livestock.  Deletes reference to a passenger car or motorcycle in a
provision that for unnumbered highways outside an urban district it is
lawful to travel at 60 mph during daylight or 55 mph at night.  Deletes a
provision that outside an urban district it is lawful to travel at 60 mph
during daylight or 55 mph at night, if a vehicle is a truck, other than a
light truck, a truck tractor, trailer, semitrailer, or a vehicle towing
such, or a towable recreational vehicle. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.