Lawmakers in North Carolina looking to change speed limits and DWI laws in newly filed bills

North Carolina Lawmakers Propose Higher Speed Limits and Stricter DWI Rules

North Carolina legislators have introduced two bipartisan bills that could significantly impact driving laws across the state. The proposals include raising the maximum highway speed limit to 75 mph and lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for DWI charges from 0.08 to 0.05.

Proposed Increase in Speed Limits

House Bill 112 seeks to increase the state’s maximum highway speed limit from 70 to 75 mph. Additionally, it would raise the threshold for more severe speeding penalties, increasing the cutoff from 80 mph to 85 mph before facing higher legal consequences.

While this change would not immediately increase speed limits across all highways, it would permit such changes in designated areas—most likely on major roads where the current speed limit is already 70 mph. Highways such as Interstate 95, I-40, I-87, and U.S. 1 could see these increases if the bill is enacted.

Advocates argue that faster speeds could enhance economic efficiency, allowing both people and goods to move more quickly across the state. For example, a truck traveling between Wilmington and Asheville—a 370-mile journey along I-40—could reduce travel time by up to 40 minutes by increasing its speed from 70 to 75 mph. Pushing the speed to 80 mph could save even more time.

However, opponents highlight the increased risks associated with higher speed limits. Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests an 8.5% increase in traffic fatalities for every 5 mph rise in speed limits. Faster-moving vehicles reduce driver reaction time and intensify the force of collisions, leading to more severe injuries and deaths. Studies indicate that states that raised their speed limits after 1995 saw fatal crashes increase by as much as 17%.

Stricter DWI Regulations

A separate bill, House Bill 108, proposes lowering the legal BAC limit for DWI charges from 0.08 to 0.05. Representative Mike Clampitt, a retired firefighter and the bill’s primary sponsor, cites his experience responding to tragic alcohol-related crashes as motivation for the proposal.

Currently, North Carolina law assumes a driver is impaired at a BAC of 0.08, though convictions are possible below this threshold under certain circumstances. Lowering the legal limit to 0.05 would make it significantly easier for prosecutors to secure DWI convictions, potentially criminalizing drivers who have consumed just one or two alcoholic drinks.

Impact on Road Safety

Data from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program highlights the persistent dangers of alcohol and speed-related crashes in North Carolina. Over the past several years, alcohol-related fatalities have remained relatively steady, while speed-related fatalities have risen.

• 2018: 390 alcohol-related deaths, 312 speed-related deaths
• 2019: 355 alcohol-related deaths, 377 speed-related deaths
• 2020: 395 alcohol-related deaths, 418 speed-related deaths
• 2021: 404 alcohol-related deaths, 429 speed-related deaths
• 2022: 409 alcohol-related deaths, 429 speed-related deaths

Men under 30 account for 75% of all speed-related traffic fatalities in the state. These statistics underscore concerns that higher speed limits may further contribute to rising traffic deaths.

Balancing Safety and Efficiency

The debate over these proposed laws highlights a trade-off between safety and convenience. While higher speed limits could improve travel efficiency and economic productivity, they come with well-documented risks. Likewise, lowering the BAC limit for DWI offenses could deter impaired driving, but may also increase the number of arrests and legal cases for drivers who previously would not have been considered legally intoxicated.

Both bills are currently under legislative review, and their outcomes could reshape North Carolina’s approach to road safety. Motorists, lawmakers, and legal professionals alike will be closely watching how these proposals progress in the coming months.