FW Police Enforcing New Highway Speed Limits
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - Drivers on several North Texas highways are now allowed to go faster than before.
In July, TxDOT finished updating signage on roads where the limit was adjusted earlier this year.
In Tarrant County, I-20 increased from 60 to 70 miles per hour.
Part of loop 820 and 121 went from 60 to 65 mph.
North and South of central Fort Worth, I-35W increased from 65 to 70 mph.
"You have to just watch the speed limit and be careful," said Freddie James, who noticed the change on his drive.
For Justin Swindell, a Fort Worth Police Freeway Enforcement Officer, the faster people go over the speed limit, the more dangerous it can be.
"When we see an increase in speeds, the accidents seem to be a little bit more dangerous," Officer Swindell said.
While he's not seen an increase in the number of violators, Swindell says the drivers he pulls over for speeding are going a higher rate.
He stopped three people speeding on I-20 in 15 minutes yesterday.
"The kind of reaction we get - [drivers say] they're going along with the speed of traffic, but at the same time we do have increased speeds," the officer said.
This year Fort Worth police have seen more crashes end in fatality than last year.
They're asking drivers to obey the new limit - consider it the max speed.
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