Col. John Butler, head of the Wyoming Highway Patrol, says he has concerns about a proposal to increase the maximum speed limit on Wyoming Highways to 80 mph.

Butler says that while he wouldn't go so far as to say he flatly opposes the proposal, he is concerned about the safety impact on both troopers and the general public. One problem for him is "speed creep," which means each time the speed limit is increased people actually tend to drive 3 or 4 miles above the limit. Motorists might commonly drive up to 84 mph if the limit is increased to 80 mph.

He also says that in view of the fact that the state's traffic fatality rate last year was the lowest since 1945, changing a policy that seems to be working may not be a good idea.

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