The Missouri House has recently approved SB 1408, which is set to increase the state’s speed limit to 75 miles per hour on rural four-lane highways and eliminate safety inspections for most car owners. The bill has been met with mixed reactions from Missouri residents, as many believe it could make driving on the state’s roads more dangerous.
According to reports, the bill, which is sponsored by Senator Jamie Burger, was initially introduced as a speed-related measure, increasing the limit from Missouri’s current 70 mph. However, over time, it began to incorporate additional elements, including new rules for license plate renewals and vehicle registrations.
A contentious aspect of the bill is that it would eliminate the state’s vehicle inspection requirements for most passenger vehicles, which currently must be completed every two years.
Soon after the vote, local influencers criticized the bill. For example, Tall Nate, who has over 150,000 followers on TikTok, slammed it as an irresponsible measure that will likely pass. To become law, SB 1408 still needs to be approved once again by the Senate and then signed by the governor.
Drivers Criticize Missouri’s SB 1408
The bill did not sit well with some drivers in Missouri, as many believed that raising speed limits could be dangerous. One user said, “Every 5mph increase in the speed limit causes more highway deaths.” Another added, “I absolutely can’t imagine people zipping down our curvy rural highways in the Ozarks faster than they already do… what a nightmare.”
Others were worried about the combination of higher speeds and cars in an increasingly poor state: “So many people can’t fix their trash cars, and now we are letting them not only get by with their trash, but we are letting them go FASTER?!?” One user even shared their story as a way to warn others, saying they received “permanent back damage at 19 years old from an idiot rear-ending me in the right lane. It’s all fun and games until it’s you or your loved one.”
Not everyone was against the bill, however, as some locals believed that safety inspections would be better gone: “The Missouri safety inspections are a farce and a racket for mechanics. Ask around, and you will see that if one mechanic fails you, you can easily find another who will pass you for the exact same vehicle.”
This sparked the following response, however: “Missouri inspector here, we don’t enjoy or want to do safety inspections, as it causes poor customer interactions for a variety of reasons. But I DO believe cars need to be checked for road safety; you’re not obligated to have the inspection station do the repairs. Some repairs are very necessary.”
It remains to be seen if SB 1408 will become a law, but if it does, it’s likely that it will be quite controversial for years to come.
