Earlier this year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced its intent to move forward with speed limiter rulemaking. At the Law Firm for Truck Safety, we applaud this move as we believe speed limiters are imperative to the safe operation of commercial vehicles on our Nation’s highways.
What are Speed Limiters?
A speed limiter –or speed governor as it is sometimes called— is a safety device that limits a vehicle’s top speed. When a speed limiter is activated, a truck cannot move faster than the speed set by the limiter. This can help truck drivers on long trips ensure they are maintaining safe road speeds while en route to their destination.
According to the FMCSA, an investigation revealed that Carpenter, a commercial driver’s license holder, is medically unqualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Carpenter was served the federal order on Nov. 6, 2015.
On Oct. 22, 2015, while driving a company truck in Crystal Bay Township, Minn., Carpenter reportedly suffered a medical problem, which caused his vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic, collide into a passenger vehicle, and fatally injure the driver.
Following the crash, Carpenter revealed to federal and state investigators that he had experienced approximately six previous episodes involving medical problems while driving, some of which also resulted in crashes.
According to the FMCSA, an investigation revealed that Carpenter, a commercial driver’s license holder, is medically unqualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Carpenter was served the federal order on Nov. 6, 2015.
On Oct. 22, 2015, while driving a company truck in Crystal Bay Township, Minn., Carpenter reportedly suffered a medical problem, which caused his vehicle to cross into oncoming traffic, collide into a passenger vehicle, and fatally injure the driver.
Following the crash, Carpenter revealed to federal and state investigators that he had experienced approximately six previous episodes involving medical problems while driving, some of which also resulted in crashes.
How do speed limiters save lives?
Opponents of speed limiters may argue that limiting the maximum speed of trucks limits their ability to keep up with the flow of highway traffic, increasing the risk semi-trucks pose to US drivers. Not only does data suggest otherwise, but those who make this argument conflate speeding with overall speed, and in doing so, sidestep the core safety issue speed limiters are designed to address: a faster semi-truck is a more fatal semi-truck.
Examining the number of truck crash fatalities from 2010-2019, fatal crashes involving a speeding truck stay roughly around 18.5% of the aggregate. While we strongly believe that 18.5% should –and can be– 0%, it is a trendline that has held relatively constant over the years.
However, when breaking down the same data over that same period by the speed limits of roads on which fatal truck crashes occurred, a much more alarming trend becomes evident –with a 210% increase in fatal crashes on roads with speed limits of 75+mph compared to a 29% increase on roads with speed limits of 70mph or less.
Looking at the data, it’s difficult to ignore that the faster a truck travels, the greater risk it poses to lives. And that’s the bottom line.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
Involved in a Crash?
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
Referrals & Co-Counsel
No other law firm knows trucks quite like us. Our trucking law expertise and trial experience allow us to win multi-million-dollar results year after year.
Involved in a Crash?
Our team of truck accident attorneys works tirelessly to help your family find justice in the wake of a catastrophic truck crash.
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Andy Young | [email protected]
