Topeka ? Motorists will be able to drive faster on some Kansas highways and pay less for some seat belt violations under a bill that has been signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback.

House Bill 2192 contained several major transportation provisions.

It also allows motorcyclists and bicyclists to proceed with caution through red lights that they are unable to trigger to change to green.

And the new law requires motorists to maintain a minimum 3-foot distance when passing a bicyclist.

Under the law, the speed limit of 70 mph could be increased to 75 mph on some stretches of separated, multilane highways.

The change could apply to more than 1,000 miles of roadway, but the Kansas Department of Transportation will make the final decision on where to increase the limit.

The seat-belt provision limits fines on a recent primary seat-belt law to $10. The primary law allows police to pull over drivers for not wearing a seat belt even if there is no other infraction.

Some cities had used their home-rule authority to levy higher fines, which angered some lawmakers.

The so-called “dead red” provision of the new law allows motorcyclists and bicyclists to run red lights if the light fails to turn green within a reasonable amount of time because of a signal malfunction or if the signal has failed to detect the motorcycle or bicycle.

Bicyclists had sought to establish the 3-foot minimum passing distance in Kansas law, saying that would raise awareness about the problems of unsafe passing.