Committee holds hearing on raising minimum speed limits on state highways

An unnamed sponsor presented House Bill 809 and described it as an effort to raise minimum speed limits on portions of the state's highways — not to increase maximum speed limits — to reduce speed differentials that the sponsor said contribute to rear-end collisions.

The sponsor said he has letters of support from the Georgia Sheriffs Association and the Georgia chiefs of police and has discussed the measure with the Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Transportation. He referenced state code (40.6.1804) allowing the relevant commissioners to set minimum speed limits after engineering studies, and said he would seek statewide application following engineering review.

Committee members raised implementation questions including the number and cost of signs, the timeline for an effective date, and whether raising minimums would unduly penalize seniors and student drivers. Representative Taylor said she was concerned about seniors and learner drivers who may be unable to maintain a higher minimum speed; the sponsor replied that existing statutes already prohibit driving so slowly that a vehicle impedes traffic and that the bill would apply only to state roads with posted high-speed limits.

The Department of Transportation has not provided a cost estimate for changes to signage and enforcement, the sponsor said, and the committee designated the measure "hearing only" while DOT and other stakeholders continue to work on implementation details.

The committee did not take an advancing vote on the bill during the hearing.