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N.J. Lawmaker Wants To Raise Turnpike, Parkway Speeds

MONMOUTH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A state lawmaker wants to raise the speed limit on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.

Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon, R-Monmouth, told WCBS 880's Levon Putney that he's been consulting with traffic engineers and wants to introduce a bill that would increase the speed limits, likely to 75 mph. Currently, the top speed limits on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway are 65 mph.

O'Scanlon said he believes that a higher speed limit would result in fewer accidents. He said studies have shown that only the drivers who go the speed limit would drive faster, and because there would be less of a speed difference among cars on the highways, there would be fewer lane changes.

N.J. Lawmaker Wants To Raise Turnpike, Parkway Speeds

"You only have crashes and accidents when you have people overtaking other people," O'Scanlon said.

However, Steven Benvenisti, a personal injury attorney in Teaneck, argued that allowing cars to go faster is a dangerous proposition.

"Anything which is going to decrease the reaction time to a driver is something that I'm against," he said. "There isn't a doubt in mind that there will be increased crashes if the speed limit is increased."

O'Scanlon also said that raising speeds will prevent police from arbitrarily ticketing drivers. "Police can flip a coin and pull over almost anyone on the road," he said.

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