Bill > HB2059

This bill modifies Arizona's highway speed regulations by introducing a new concept of "derestricted speed zones" on state highways outside urbanized areas. The legislation allows the state transportation director to designate specific highway segments where motor vehicles (except commercial vehicles) can travel without a maximum speed limit during daylight hours, subject to strict safety criteria. To qualify for a derestricted zone, a highway segment must be located outside a large urban area, have a crash rate below the statewide average, and meet high-speed infrastructure standards. Drivers in these zones must follow specific rules, such as staying in the right-hand lane except when passing and yielding to faster traffic. The bill mandates annual safety audits of these zones, requires public education about the new rules, and establishes significant civil penalties for violations (starting at $500 for a first offense). As a pilot program, the director will initially designate a segment of Interstate 8 as a derestricted zone, with potential expansion to other highways based on safety data. The legislation also adjusts various related provisions in existing traffic laws, including maximum speed limits and how speed violations are classified and penalized.

Government Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/83621