In a peculiar move last week, the Maine Department of Transportation raised speed limits on many portions of the state’s highways by 5 mph. Motorists are able to hurtle along parts of interstates 95, 295, 395 and Route 1 at a quicker clip owing to the increase.

Around Greater Portland, the limit on the Scarborough Connector rises to 60 mph; Interstate 295 rises to 70 mph between Tukey’s Bridge in Portland and Gardiner, and Interstate 195 in Saco rises to 60 mph. The Maine Turnpike remains unchanged.

The speed limit rise was met with concerned apprehension by those who say higher speeds heighten the likelihood of more severe accidents, namely AAA of Northern New England and even some truckers who have been quoted in local media. The state police chief has also urged motorists, in the wake of the changes, to increase their following distance, since higher speeds require more braking distance.

Maine Department of Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt announced the increase last Tuesday. He told reporters that after some review, the department discovered people weren’t traveling the posted speed and that the department realized it needed to adjust the limit to more accurately reflect reality on the road.

“It’s much safer if the operating speed and the posted speed are the same,” Bernhardt is quoted as saying as the No. 1 reason for the change.

The change in speed limits is a curious one especially since it came after little public discussion. Why would the executive branch change speed limits with little input? What’s the governor’s angle here? We’re still trying to figure it out.

We do know one thing: Bernhardt’s reasoning – that the limit needs to reflect the speed people are actually driving – is absurd. No matter what the speed limit is, people fall into certain categories. Some drivers opt for traveling the exact speed limit, knowing they’re safe from speeding tickets. A second group feels hovering around 5 mph above will keep the blue lights from chasing and instill a feeling of making good time. And then you have those who speed 10 mph and up who seem little concerned with being ticketed or anyone’s safety.

The other reality of the road, contrary to Bernhardt’s notions, is that very few drivers define “speed limit” as the upper threshold. Rather, most view it as the lowest speed one should drive. So, no matter what the speed limit is, you will always have varying speed categories. With the speed limit increases, the only difference is that drivers will be traveling an additional 5 mph faster.

While some will probably enjoy going faster on the highway, there are many who remember 55 mph as the standard and feel 65 mph is plenty fast enough. In addition to safety considerations, many go the speed limit to save on gas, either for environmental-impact factors or to save money.

The faster you drive, the more gas you burn. For most cars, studies say fuel efficiency peaks at about 50-60 mph. Every mile-per-hour you travel in excess of that optimal range increases the rate of fuel consumption.

At today’s fuel prices, the U.S. Department of Energy reports that each 5 mph you drive above 60 mph is equal to paying an additional 24 cents per gallon of gas. A CNN report says traveling 65 mph is 8 percent less efficient than driving 55 mph and that driving 70 mph is 17 percent less efficient. Much of that, 40 percent, is due to wind resistance. Add an SUV or pickup truck into the mix, rather than a streamlined sedan, and those consumption rates multiply.

Rather than being a plus, this might actually backfire on the state. You may have stubborn drivers who refuse to drive faster, eschewing the new limits and sticking to their comfortable and budget- and Earth-friendlier speeds. In that case, the department should be ready to respond to more accidents because Bernhardt is right about one thing: The difference in velocity is a common cause of highway accidents. And with the speed limit increase, that variation will probably be greater than ever.

–John Balentine, managing editor