Truckers Request Speed Limiters for Safety

Heavy vehicles moving at quick speeds have the capability to cause serious injury or even fatality. They are innately dangerous. Despite the efforts of safety lobbyists for the federal government to require trucks to set their speed limiter devices to 65 mph, the last two presidential administrations have failed to act.

Lobbyists led by the Road Safe America and the Truck Safety Coalition are attempting to work with lawmakers to pass a law that would require all heavy-duty trucks to use speed limiters and install automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems.

Looking to Move Safety Measures Forward

The Road Safe America president is still hopeful to push things forward. He shared that over the last 12 years, the coalition has been less than happy with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s response. Despite receiving more than 2,000 public comments on proposed legislation regarding speed limiting devices for large trucks, nothing has been done. Now, he hopes that Congress or President Trump can move things along, even if it means asking the Department of Transportation why this has yet to be done.

While speed limiters have been standard in most heavy commercial trucks since the mid-1990s, only Australia, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Japan require they be turned on and set. The United States does not require this.

The Benefits of Speed Limiters

According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study, trucks that do not use their speed limiters had a 200 percent higher highway-speed crash rate than those using speed limiters. Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that AEB systems can help prevent more than 2,500 crashes annually. The agency explained that for every year that full implementation of AEB systems is not met, 166 people will suffer fatal injuries, while another 8,000 will suffer serious injuries.

Every day in the United States, there are an average of 1,000 crashes involving large trucks. The regulation would pay for itself by reducing the number of accidents and subsequent traffic jams, gas, and productivity that is wasted, leading to billions of dollars spent.

A Mixture of Support

Support for a tentative bill has been mixed, with the Trucking Alliance supporting the cause, while the American Trucking Association will only support it if nationwide speed limits for cars and trucks are also set to 65 mph. One of the biggest concerns is the wide difference in speeds traveled for traffic versus for speed limited large trucks. The president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association agrees that highways are safest when all vehicles are driving about the same speed.

Cherry Hill Truck Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Help Victims Injured in Trucking Accidents

If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, it can cause harm to both you and your vehicle. You should not have to pay for the mistakes of someone else. That is why it is so important to contact the knowledgeable and experienced Cherry Hill truck accident lawyers at DiTomaso Law today. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, contact us online or call us at 856-414-0010 today. Located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, we proudly serve clients through South Jersey, including Mt. Holly and Camden County.