New Legislation Could Raise Garden State Parkway Speed Limit To 75 MPH – Or Even Higher

New Jersey State Senator Declan O’Scanlon is leading the charge to reshape speed limits on the state’s major highways and interstates with the introduction of the “Speed Limit Sanity Act.” The proposed legislation aims to align posted speed limits with the speeds at which drivers naturally travel, addressing long-standing concerns about inconsistent enforcement and abrupt slowdowns that contribute to accidents.

O’Scanlon’s bill, if passed, would remove the authority to set speed limits from legislators and place it in the hands of traffic engineers. The legislation mandates that speed limits on limited access highways, such as the Garden State Parkway and Route 18, be based on engineering studies measuring the speed at or below which 85% of vehicles travel – a widely accepted standard in traffic management.

“The goal is to base speed limits on real data, not arbitrary decisions,” said O’Scanlon. “Right now, we have speed limits that don’t reflect how people actually drive. This creates dangerous situations where drivers going the flow of traffic are technically speeding, and others suddenly brake when they spot police.”

A recent study conducted by News 12, in collaboration with Wall Township police, highlights the issue. On Route 18, where the posted speed limit is 55 mph, the average speed of 43 vehicles was 63.5 mph. Similarly, on the Garden State Parkway, vehicles consistently exceeded 65 mph, with News 12 crews witnessing drivers surpassing the station’s pace even with cruise control set at the speed limit.

O’Scanlon argues that artificially low speed limits lead to unnecessary traffic stops and contribute to rear-end collisions when faster drivers suddenly slow down to avoid tickets. “When traffic flows naturally at 75 mph, having a speed limit of 55 or 60 creates a speed trap, not safer roads,” he explained.

Reactions to the proposal have been mixed. Some drivers, like Alan S. from Passaic County, express concern that higher speed limits will encourage reckless driving. “An accident at 65 is already bad enough. If you raise the limit to 75, people will drive even faster,” he said. Others, like Mary Debellis of White Plains, support the change. “An average speed is fair. Most drivers are responsible, and this would reflect reality,” she said.

Kristi Razi, a driver from Westchester County, believes a thorough study is essential. “I think they definitely need to evaluate this. But honestly, we didn’t see many police officers during our trip, which might explain why people feel comfortable speeding,” she noted.

O’Scanlon believes the biggest risk lies in the inconsistency of enforcement. “It’s not about letting people drive faster; it’s about making sure the speed limit reflects how people actually drive. This reduces disparities that cause accidents,” he said.

The bill also calls for periodic reevaluation of speed limits every 10 years or whenever significant road changes occur. Highways under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority would all be subject to the new standards.

Additionally, O’Scanlon is open to introducing minimum speed limits to keep slower drivers in the right lane and out of the way of faster-moving traffic. “Slower drivers often create just as much danger as speeders. Ensuring they stay to the right will help improve safety and traffic flow,” he added.