Proposed Federal Rule Will Reduce Truck Accident Fatalities

In August 2016, the U.S. Transportation Secretary announced that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed that heavy-vehicle duties need regulated in speed. These vehicles, which include commercial trucks, will be fitted with devices that are set to a maximum speed and will prevent truck drivers from driving too quickly on the roadways. This safety measure is not only beneficial for saving lives, but also on a financial level where it will save upwards of $1 billion in fuel costs every year.

Who Will These Rules Apply To?

The federal rule will apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds. The speed limiting devices will be placed on these vehicles in the upcoming months to add limits as soon as possible and begin saving lives. The proposal has discussed many benefits of limiting these vehicles to 60, 65, and 68 miles per hour. However, federal lawmakers are listening to the public and working on these considerations before it is officially set into place.

Every year, people die in accidents involving large commercial trucks that are thousands of more pounds than their vehicles. In many of these cases, distractions and drunk driving are an issue – but speeding is not to be forgotten. FMCSA Administrator T.F. Scott Darling III has commented on the matter, “Safe trucking moves our economy and safe bus operations transport our loved ones.” This is something very important to remember, and a good reason why these regulations exist today. In the months to come, we will see these huge changes and the impact they have on our roadways.