Bill seeks to remove speed limits for non-commercial vehicles only on some Arizona roadways

Legislation introduced this week would effectively remove speed limits for motorists driving on certain rural interstates in Arizona.

On December 15, 2025, the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act (HB2059) was introduced by State Representative Nick Kupper.

The bill would allow the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) to “authorize derestricted speed zones for non-commercial vehicles during daylight hours on qualifying rural interstates,” according to a news release from Kupper’s office.

During the nighttime hours, those rural interstates would have a speed limit of 80 m.p.h.

Speed limits for commercial vehicles would not be impacted by the RAPID Act.

Kupper said that Arizona’s existing “reasonable and prudent” standards would remain in effect, and the bill would also increase civil penalties for misuse of the speed limit-free zones.

If the bill passes, the “derestricted speed zones” would be tried first along portions of I-8 as part of a one year pilot program to determine the safety impact prior to the full adoption of the plan.

The bill would also require “annual safety audits of derestricted segments, coordination with the Department of Public Safety on enforcement, and a public education effort to ensure drivers understand key expectations—such as lane discipline and passing rules—before entering a zone.”

“Most drivers can tell the difference between a crowded city freeway and a wide-open stretch of rural interstate,” said Kupper. “The RAPID Act accounts for that difference. It will let us raise speeds where it’s safe, keep tough penalties for reckless driving, and update our laws to reflect how people actually use these roads.”

Kupper pointed to a similar system in use in Montana as proof that higher speed limits can be safe.

“Montana showed that you can modernize speed laws without sacrificing safety,” he added. “When rulesare clear and focused on driver behavior, states can let safe highways operate as they were designed to operate. Arizona should benefit from those lessons instead of sticking with limits that don’t reflect reality.”

Trucking groups like the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association have long opposed speed differentials, arguing that they increase traffic interactions between cars and trucks and make crashes more likely.