The Louisiana House voted in favor of a proposal that would require all drivers to travel at a minimum speed on the state’s interstate highways.

House lawmakers approved the bill 90-10 on April 29. The bill’s next stop is the Senate.

Under HB273, in locations where the speed limit is 70 mph, a minimum speed of 55 mph would be set, and in areas where the maximum speed is 60 mph, the minimum speed would be 45 mph. Any place along an interstate highway where the maximum posted limit is less than 60 mph, the minimum speed would be 15 mph less than the maximum posted speed.

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Pete Schneider, R-Slidell, said he had been behind drivers on Interstate 12 going 30 mph at least five times in recent months. Schneider told The Advocate those drivers pose a threat to traffic by causing other vehicles to swerve around them.

Peter Allain, traffic engineering division administrator for the state Department of Transportation and Development, said it would cost the agency about $500,000 to produce the signs and post them.

If signed into law, violators could face a fine up to $175, up to 30 days in jail, or both. Repeat offenders could face a fine as much as $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both.