Reducing Truck Accidents: US Regulators Propose Forced Speed Limits
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCA) - the US regulatory bodies which issues national rules and regulations for trucks and buses - have issued an official proposal to forcibly slow down trucks and other oversized vehicles on our nation's highways
Trucks are currently bound only by the speed limits in their respective states, which have varied widely since the 90's when Congress granted the state's sole authority to set their own speed limits. In some western states, speed limits on state highways are as high as 85 miles per hour.
While the dangers of allowing a 30,000 to 80,000 pound piece of metal on wheels to travel at high speeds are well known, one of the less obvious dangers has to do with a truck's tires. Most truck tires have not been engineered to handle speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. Traveling above a tire's speed rating can cause blowouts and other failures which often lead to serious accidents. When setting their speed limits, many states either were not aware of the tire limitations while others simply did not take them into account.
To address these issues, the NHTSA and the FMCA have proposed that all newly manufactured trucks be fitted with a “Speed Limiter' - that is, an electronic device which will not allow the truck to go faster than a set speed limit. While regulators have not decided the exact speed a truck would be limited to traveling, the current proposal calls for a maximum between 60 and 68 miles per hour.
According to the regulators, a lower speed limit of 60 miles per hour could save as many as 498 lives per year, drastically reducing the number of annual truck accident fatalities from an annual average of 1,115. Opponents, however, believe that forcing a speed limit lower than the state maximums will create new dangers by reducing the ability of trucks in interact with other vehicles on the road which will often be traveling 10 to 20 miles per hour faster than the trucks.
Regardless of the actions taken, truck accidents will continue to endanger the lives and safety of those traveling in our highways. If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident with a truck or tractor trailer on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Route 80, the interstate highways, or other roads throughout Pennsylvania, you need the representation of an experienced auto accident attorney.
The attorneys at Alvin F. de Levie & Associates specialize in auto accidents and have experience representing truck accident victims. Our dedicated attorneys will answer any questions you may have regarding a case and help you navigate through the legal process. Our firm can capably handle virtually any type of motor vehicle accident case, including:
Contact our dedicated legal team today at (844)-777-2529 for a free initial consultation. We maintain offices throughout Pennsylvania with locations in Philadelphia, State College, Clearfield, Bellefonte, and Lock Haven. We are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.
Alvin F. de Levie is a 1973, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a 1976 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is an expert in Pennsylvania Law revolving around medical malpractice and personal injury.
Mr. de Levie has consistently been voted by his peers to receive Martindale-Hubbell's "AV Preeminent" 5.0 out of 5.0 rating. An AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
