Life in the fast lane: High speeds plus stringent rules could give U.S. its own version of famed Autobahn highway

Similar to Germany’s renowned Autobahn highway system, Arizona has taken its first step to eliminate mandatory speed limits on some of its highways.

On Dec. 15, Republican State Rep. Nick Kupper, a retired Air Force veteran, introduced HB2059, the Reasonable and Prudent Interstate Driving (RAPID) Act. According to Monday’s press release, “The legislation [would] allow higher speeds on designated rural instate segments while maintaining tough penalties for dangerous driving.”

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

WorldNetDaily spoke to the Arizona legislator, who said: “When you look at Montana, who did this in the 1990s, and Germany, who has done this for 90 years, you see a pattern. Most drivers tend to drive around 80 mph on their own when not presented with a speed limit,” he said.

The bill limits nighttime speeds to just that – 80 mph.

“The data out of Montana showed there were actually fewer fatalities in their de-restricted speed zones than their speed-limit zones,” he told WND. “But out of an abundance of caution, I proposed a one-year pilot on a segment of Interstate 8 that would be chosen by the Arizona Department of Transportation director and subject to annual safety audits.”

Kupper said he anticipates “a decrease in crash and fatality rates, as it has already been shown that driver behavior such as seatbelt use have a more significant influence on these matters than the speed at which drivers travel.”

Rep. Kupper Introduces “RAPID Act” to Raise Speed Limits on Safe Rural Interstates

“Most drivers can tell the difference between a crowded city freeway and a wide-open stretch of rural interstate. The RAPID Act accounts for that difference. It will let us raise speeds where its… pic.twitter.com/R5o900nnFt

— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) December 15, 2025

As for the next steps of the bill, Kupper noted that the Arizona legislative session opens on Jan. 12. “The bill will be sent to committee for its first hearing soon after,” he told WND. “It should be a lively debate, but I believe the data will help the bill move on to a full vote on the House floor.”