Oklahoma Passes Law Hiking Turnpike, Highway Speeds

Legislation that increases speed limits on Oklahoma turnpikes and some state highways has been signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

The bill signed by Stitt last week increases turnpike speed limits from 75 to 80 mph and from 70 to 75 mph on certain state highways.

Rep. Daniel Pae of Lawton authored the bill and says he worked with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He says the new speed limits will be implemented gradually and safely.

Pae says lawmakers worked to ensure the safety of Oklahoma drivers while increasing highway speed limits. He says officials will use traffic and engineering studies on issues like traffic density and infrastructure quality to determine where speed limits can safely be increased.