Report: Study Shows ICC Speed Limit Can Safely Increase To 60 MPH
Highway officials will analyze crash data on the Intercounty Connector before increasing the speed limit, The Baltimore Sun reported.
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Those clamoring for an increase in the Intercounter Connector's 55 mph speed limit may have some positive news on the horizon.
An engineering study of the ICC has concluded that the speed of the highway can safely be raised to 60 mph, pending an analysis of crash data, The Baltimore Sun reported Thursday.
The accident review of the toll road is expected to be completed by the end of February, at which point the Maryland Transportation Authority will make a decision on the speed limit, according to the report.
The highway—designed for speeds up to 60 mph—has yet to see a fatal accident and Maryland Transportation Authority Police have recorded just 20 single-vehicle accidents, according to the report.
Earlier in December, Montgomery County Council Member Phil Andrews said the toll road was underused and overpriced.
Ray Lotier
8:14 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
They could safely raise the speed limit to 65 mph. But then they wouldn't be able to write as many speeding tickets.
James C. Walker
11:43 am on Saturday, December 29, 2012
A legitimate traffic and engineering study on the ICC under good conditions when no enforcement was present (VERY unlikely to happen with Maryland officials) would almost certainly conclude that the safest speed limit to post would be at least 65 mph, and more likely 70 mph.
BUT posting the speed limit for maximum safety would gut the predatory speeding ticket revenue stream - and MONEY is the primary goal for most Maryland speed limits and their predatory enforcement procedures.
James C. Walker, National Motorists Association (frequent area visitor)