Quinn signs 70 mph speed limit law for Illinois

Gov. Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 2356, which increases speed limits on rural highways to 70 miles per hour. The limit increase only affects highways outside of urban areas. Highways within Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will counties will be able to opt out through local ordinances. According to the Chicago Tribune:...

Gov. Quinn signed into law Senate Bill 2356, which increases speed limits on rural highways to 70 miles per hour.

The limit increase only affects highways outside of urban areas. Highways within Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Madison, McHenry, St. Clair, and Will counties will be able to opt out through local ordinances.

According to the Chicago Tribune:

“This limited five miles-per-hour increase will bring Illinois’ rural interstate speed limits in line with our neighbors and the majority of states across America, while preventing an increase in excessive speeding,” Quinn said in a statement. “I encourage all motorists to continue to respect our traffic laws, avoid distractions and exercise common sense behind the wheel to protect the safety of themselves and others.”

The bill was introduced by freshman state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove.

Previously, Illinois’ 65 mph speed limit was lower than many of our neighbors, as the map below shows. The only state in the region that still maintains a 65 mph max speed limit is Wisconsin.

The new 70 mph speed limit will go into effect as soon as signs are installed on each roadway. The cost to update the signs will cost the state anywhere from $150,000 to $200,000.