ORLANDO, Fla. — Drivers along SR 408 may notice crews with the Central Florida Expressway Authority changing the speed limit signs along SR-408 from 55 to 60 mph.
The new speed limit for the 12 mile stretch between Kirkman Road and Chickasaw trail is supposed to make the road safer.
In February the Expressway Authority approved the change after a study showed that only 15 percent of drivers actually travel at 55 miles an hour and that many drivers are well above that.
READ: Expressway authority approves speed limit increase on SR 408
Brian Hutchings with the Expressway Authority says several improvements over the years have allowed for the change.
“We’ve widened the roadway, improved the interchanges, we’ve done the open road tolling so really what you have is the new 408 is very different from when it was originally built,” Hutchings said.
When the change was announced Lt. Kim Montes with the Florida Highway Patrol said that contrary to what people may think, slower speeds can actually cause problems.
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“You have a certain segment of the population that absolutely does the speed limit and then you have people who are lane surfing, they’re cutting in and out of traffic trying to get ahead of traffic putting other drivers at risk,” Montes said.
Drivers should be aware however that troopers and police officers will still be out pulling people over even with the increase.
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“We don’t want people to think this is a reason to go 5 miles faster than they’re already going. It’s a way for us to bring everybody closer together.” Montes said.
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