With speed contributing to a third of all truck related crashes, both the federal government and the trucking industry are calling for trucks to slow down. Although speed limiters are already installed in most trucks, they are not currently activated. A nationwide proposal would impose the use of an electronic speed monitor to cap the speed of vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are petitioning for speed devices in trucks to be set to a maximum speed of 60 – 65 – or 68 miles per hour. Along with the hopes that more lives will be saved on the road, the estimated fuel and emissions savings would make the proposal a win-win for everyone involved.
NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said in an interview, “Even small increases in speed have large effects on the force of impact. Setting the speed limit on heavy vehicles makes sense for safety and the environment.” The proposal would establish safety standards on all new U.S. trucks, busses and multipurpose passenger vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds.
Companies who utilize large truck drivers for commercial purposes will be held responsible for maintaining the speed limiting devices. The set travel speed has yet to be determined, but researchers indicate that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles will save more lives on the road.
Fatal truck accidents are all too common, killing nearly 4,000 people each year, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. On top of that, more than 100,000 people are injured every year in truck crashes. Victims of truck accidents are at extremely higher risks for catastrophic injury because of the vehicle’s size and weight.
As the number of commercial trucks on the roads increase, the number of auto accidents involving them also increases. If you or a loved one has been injured in a collision with a commercial truck, we can help. Email us today using our case submission form or call us at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation. The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker represent clients throughout all of California and Arizona with offices in Long Beach, Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange County, Bakersfield, Fresno, Phoenix, and Tucson.
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