Motorists soon may be able to drive 65 miles per hour once again along the stretch of U.S. 2 from Evergreen to Montana 40.

After reviewing a state speed study on that segment of U.S. 2, the Flathead County commissioners wrote a letter to the state Department of Transportation asking that the speed limit be raised to 65 mph immediately north of Rose Crossing to the intersection with Montana 40 because the state found 85 percent of drivers are driving that fast already.

The state also recommends the speed limit be raised to 65 mph, based on the study.

The state Transportation Commission will vote on the recommendation at its May 30 meeting.

A speed limit can only be increased by the Transportation Commission if the local government supports it, said James Freyholtz, Kalispell area traffic engineer for the Montana Department of Transportation.

In 2010, a 55 mph zone was imposed on a portion of U.S. 2 north of Evergreen to Glacier Park International Airport and a 60 mph zone was posted from the airport to Montana 40. Prior to that the highway had a statutory 70 mph speed limit.

Another area highway, Montana 83, more commonly referred to as the Swan Highway, also is being considered for a speed-limit change.

Freyholtz met with the Flathead County commissioners on Monday, explaining the proposed change from a 55 mph night speed limit to 65 mph.

The state is presenting its speed-limit study findings to three affected counties — Flathead, Lake and Missoula. Once written comments are received from those counties, the matter can be put on the Transportation Commission agenda, probably for the July meeting.

The 55 mph night-time speed limit went into effect on Montana 83 in summer 2009, but data collected showed that highway also met the 85th percentile benchmark.

Research shows that motorists traveling at and near the 85th percentile speed are the most alert to travel conditions at hand and are involved in the lowest accident frequency. Motorists traveling significantly above or below that speed introduce more opportunities for traffic conflict.

“I live in the Swan and I can attest” to people driving 65 mph at night, Freyholtz said. “That’s what I see.”

Between 2010 and 2012 there were 194 crashes on Montana 83 from Montana 35 near Bigfork to the junction with Montana 200. Fifty-four, or 27.8 percent of those crashes occurred at night. That’s lower than the 32.8 percent statewide average for night-time crashes on rural state primary routes.

Conflicts with animals were listed as a contributing factor in 65 of the reported crashes. Proportionately, this is 33 percent of the crashes and is above the statewide average of 26.6 percent for rural state primary roads. And, Freyholtz noted, many motorists don’t report collisions with deer.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.