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Legislation to allow you to drive 75 miles an hour on rural interstates was approved by a State Senate Committee today, but the legislation faces an uncertain future.

Long stretches of rural roads like I-10 across North Florida, I-75 and even the turnpike can see a five mile an hour bump in the speed limit. Under Legislation moving in Tallahassee. “I’m certainly not suggesting that the department raise speed limits inside city limits in major urbanized areas but in very rural areas,” says Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-Pinellas County.

The legislation doesn’t actually raise the speed limit but it allows DOT to conduct studies and then hike the limit by as much as five miles an hour to match what drivers are already traveling. “That doesn’t meant that every facility speed limit would get raised to 75 miles an hour,” says Ananth Prasad, FL DOT Secretary.

The Committee approved the legislation, not uncommon when it is the chairman’s bill, but it faces a tough road ahead. “This is not the German autobahn, we have leeway to drive five, six mile over the speed limit now, now you going to push it up into 80 if we increase it,” says Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-tampa.

Adding fuel to the debate is a new national study to be released next week that will paint Florida as having some of the weakest traffic laws in the nation.

Triple A motor clubs oppose any change, saying speed kills. “It takes longer to stop when you’re going faster, people are following closer, people are distracted when they’re driving and we are concerned about safety of motorist,” says Sot: Karen MacFarland, AAA Motor Clubs.

More than two thousand people died on Florida roadways last year.