OHIO COUNTY, W.Va--

The debate on whether or not to lower the speed limit on Interstate 70 in Ohio County continues.

Roughly two years ago, Sheriff Pat Butler was able to get the speed limit reduced from 70 mph to 65 mph on "two mile hill" near The Highlands.

However, the West Virginia Division of Highways said that another reduction most likely won't happen.

"You don't want to lower it to a point where you are creating a speed differential. You are going to get some people going slow and going the speed limit, and people driving comfortable where they drive faster. That's going to make people want to go faster to catch up with other people, and statistics show that once that occurs, accident rates continue to increase," said WVDOH Traffic Engineer Jay Wallace.

Wallace says the speed limit of 65 mph will stay as is for now on I-70 near the Highlands.

"I'm disappointed just from the simple fact that yes, people are going to speed, but if you look at the stopping distance between 70 and 60 miles per hour - there is a tremendous difference," said Butler.

The DOH said that more enforcement is needed in the area.

Butler said that since Jan. 6, deputies have issued 45 speeding tickets on I-70. "Just yesterday, we pulled a woman over for going 100 miles per hour," said Butler.

He said the average speed that people are going over the limit is close to 20 miles per hour.