EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — The Texas Department of Transportation El Paso District will install a new speed limit sign on US54 that may change depending on traffic, weather and other road conditions.

According to TxDOT, the new “variable speed limit” sign will be placed on US54, from Cassidy Road to I-10, but only in the southbound lanes, and will reportedly use real-time traffic data to lower the speed limit to a maximum of 6 mph hours below the stated number.

TxDOT said warning signs will alert drivers when entering the “variable speed limit” section of the road and inform drivers of the section’s current speed limit.

Eduardo Perales, PE, director of transportation operations for TxDOT El Paso, believes this new sign will help reduce the number of accidents caused by speeding and help with traffic congestion near the Bridge of the Americas.

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“Speed ​​is one of the top factors contributing to traffic accidents in Texas. This provides an additional tool to alert motorists to traffic jams or unwanted conditions affecting the road ahead and to reduce their speed. One in three of “All traffic fatalities in Texas are related to speed. While behaviorally, we can try to discourage speeding,” Perales said, adding, “We chose this section of US 54 because we often see congestion on the International crossing.’

The new variable speed limit goes live on Wednesday, October 16.

According to TxDOT, these variable speed limit signs are made possible thanks to House Bill 1885, passed in September 2023.

TxDOT figures show that in 2023, El Paso saw 3,855 accidents caused by speeding, with 30 resulting in death and 65 resulting in serious injury.

Statewide, 1,303 people were killed in speed-related crashes in 2023.

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