Nighttime speed limits are now no more along Texas Highways, as are separate speeds for truck drivers.

More than 700 new laws went into effect yesterday from the last legislative session, including those that govern our roads

These changes come as a relief to truck drivers, who are now able to drive the speed of regular travelers making trips faster and less cumbersome for their fellow drivers who are often forced to pass them.

While the laws are currently in effect and the separate speed limits have been eliminated, signs displaying night time or truck speed limits may still be up for the next several months.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will be removing them slowly throughout the next year.

In addition to these elimitions, Texas will be conducting a series of study to determine whether it should raise the maximum highway speed limit from 70 to 75, Henry B. Stow, an activist for the National Motorist Association, said in a recent press release.

The National Motorists Association had a hand in repealing the national maximum speed limit in 1995, and they hope to help push up the maximum speed limit in Texas this year.

Stowe does not believe that every road will be increased to 75 m.p.h, and said that some areas will retain their even lower 65 m.p.h. set for environmental reasons.

“We believe that these arbitrary distinctions are counterproductive,” Stowe said. “The Houston region, an area larger than New Jersey, will retain the 65 mph speed limit to comply with the politically compromised environmental speed limits mandated in this area.”

TxDOT is hiring consultants to carry out the studies, which are expected to be completed in early 2013.

For the past six decades, speed limits in Texas have been determined by using the 85th percentile method – a measure used to represent the speed of what the majority of drivers travel at. This measure has also statistically been the most safe driving speed.

Regardless of the increase, Stowe reminds all drivers to stay within their comfort zone.

“Remember that a speed limit is a limit, not a mandatory target that all motorists must travel. Faster traffic can always pass in the left lane,” he said.