In an effort to curtail congestion, reduce crashes and save lives, the Texas Department of Transportation will begin a pilot program that tests a new type of variable speed limit system this month. The pilot program, approved by the Texas Legislature, will have testing sites on I-20 in Eastland County, I-35 in Temple and Loop 1604 in San Antonio. The new system being tested will alert drivers of upcoming road conditions and traffic congestion and appropriately adjust speed limits by using sensors and electronic signs. The variable speed limit system could serve as a model for additional roadways across the state.

“Saving lives and reducing congestion are two of our top priorities,” said TxDOT Executive Director LtGen Joe Weber, USMC (Ret). “We know other states have benefited from variable speed limit systems and we would like to mirror that success here in Texas in an effort to reduce crashes. This advanced technology has been shown to lessen stop-and-go driving and help reduce rear-end collisions as drivers approach slower moving traffic.”

Using traffic sensors along the roadway, the variable-speed system identifies factors like construction, traffic congestion and weather to indicate when a lower speed limit could improve safety based on road conditions. Using portable signs, speed limits are automatically reduced in small increments to gradually reduce the speed of approaching traffic to a congested area.

When posted, adjusted speed limits represent the maximum legal speed and should lawfully be obeyed just as any other displayed speed limit. The effectiveness of the initial variable speed limit testing will be measured after at least three months of use, at which time a determination will be made to explore the possibility of expanding this technology.