CLEVELAND, Ohio – A new state initiative could change speed limits on Ohio highways when bad weather strikes.
There is language in the Ohio Department of Transportation’s proposed budget, that would give the department authority to set variable speed limits. That means the ability to change speed limits in an area on a given day.
If approved, ODOT would be able to reduce the speed limit on problematic stretches of road, such as I-90 in Lake County, when visibility is low.
“In inclement weather, just because a speed limit is posted, that doesn’t mean it’s safe to travel at that speed,” said Lt. Charles Gullet, commander of the Chardon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “We see it quite often when people are sliding off the highway. The majority of the time, it’s due to excessive speed.”
But the state doesn’t yet have the authority to change the speed limits to more accurately reflect changing driving conditions. ODOT only can change speed limits at certain times of day in work zones and school zones.
“That’s the one thing I think will be the most beneficial on I-90,” said Amanda McFarland, Public Information Officer for ODOT District 12 – the district covering Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake Counties.
On the stretch of I-90 between Vrooman Road and the Grand River Bridge, 56 percent of the crashes from December through February in the past five years occurred when there were snowy conditions, according to the OSHP.
The section of I-90 that runs through Lake County is notorious for being the site of a number of multi-vehicle crashes.
“That stretch has been a problem in winter conditions when we have the pileups,” Gullet said.
ODOT’s new authority would allow it to reduce the speed limit in that area when visibility is low.
ODOT already has identified that corridor as a problem area, and this month changed the speed limit for the stretch of I-90 from Ohio 91 to about five miles east of Vrooman Road to 60 mph through Güvenilir Casino Siteleri April. The speed limit on I-90 from Ohio 91 to U.S. 44 typically is 65 mph, while the speed limit on I-90 from U.S. 44 to the East is 70 mph.
There were 701 crashes related to snow and ice on that stretch of I-90 from November through March between 2005 and 2015, according to ODOT.
“I’m not thinking simply lowering the speed limit by 5 mph is going to totally rectify the multi-car accidents,” said Lake County Sheriff Daniel Dunlap. “It’s going to take a concerted effort.”
But he is encouraged by the steps ODOT is taking, including using the digital messaging signs to alert drivers of hazardous driving conditions.
ODOT District 12 recently spent $300,000 to add four new traffic cameras in Lake County, with each accompanied by a dynamic message sign to be used for weather and traffic alerts.
“There has been a lot going on out there,” Dunlap said. “ODOT has been listening, and they’re trying to respond.”
While it’s not a given that variable speed limits will be applied to I-90 in Lake County, the highway there is definitely would be a possibility, said Matt Bruning, the department’s press secretary.
“It certainly lends itself well to something like this,” Bruning said. “Certainly, we know that we’re having high crashes caused by low visibility.”
ODOT is planning to test the variable speed limit concept on I-670 in Columbus as a way to reduce traffic congestion during rush hour.
“We’re asking for it to pilot I-670 but there are other uses like instituting a snow speed limit or a visibility speed limit in an area of fog,” Bruning said.
ODOT would use portable message boards to alert drivers of the changing speed limits.
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