To Prevent Truck Accidents, NHTSA May Mandate Speed-Limiting Devices

March 01, 2011 (Press-News.org) When commercial truck drivers are careless or reckless, they put the lives of everyone else on the roads at risk. The relative size of tractor-trailers and traditional passenger vehicles means that collisions are likely to result in serious damage for the smaller vehicle, often resulting in severe injuries to its passengers.

To prevent truck accidents and encourage safe driving practices, the federal government strictly regulates the driving habits of truckers. For example, drivers are only allowed to drive for a certain number of hours before they are required to take a break, and they are required to maintain strict records in a logbook to ensure that they comply with these regulations.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced plans to further regulate truck drivers. At the beginning of the year, the NHTSA indicated that it would begin a rulemaking procedure to limit the top speeds of heavy trucks. Although this rule is just in the earliest stages, the NHTSA is expected to mandate speed-limiting devices in heavy trucks, which would ensure that these vehicles could not drive over 68 mph.

Speed is well-recognized as a major contributor to motor vehicle accidents; when drivers are traveling at high speeds, they have less time to respond to changing conditions and the actions of other drivers. Accordingly it seems reasonable to assume that by establishing a maximum speed for heavy trucks, the government could reduce the number of accidents and fatalities.

Not everyone agrees that mandating speed-limiting devices is the best approach to addressing speeding issues. One truck industry lobbyist group has come out firmly opposed to the regulation, claiming that highways are safest when all drivers travel at the same speed and that accidents are more likely to occur when truck drivers cannot travel with the flow of traffic.

The rulemaking process is just in its earliest stages. The NHTSA will consider a wide range of issues and perspectives before ultimately deciding whether to mandate speed-limiting devices. The formal notice of proposed rulemaking is not expected to be released before 2012, and the fact that such a rule is under consideration by no means ensures that it will be passed.

This is an important issue that warrants the full consideration of the NHTSA. Speeding truck drivers pose serious risks; injuries from a truck accident can permanently alter the course of someone's life, and the federal government should take steps to reduce these accidents.

Article provided by Freidin Dobrinsky
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