The results are in, and what many people have long suspected is confirmed. Limiting the top speeds of trucks greatly impacts safety on our highways, according to a recent federally sponsored study.
According to the study, conducted by a group that includes the American Transportation Research Institute, devices that electronically limit the top speed at which trucks can travel have a profound benefit by significantly reducing speeding-related truck accidents. Results of the study, reported in a recent issue of Transport Topics, provide further support for the American Trucking Associations’ stance that all trucks should be equipped with devices that electronically limit their top speed at 65 m.p.h.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration agreed last year to consider an ATA petition calling for a mandate on speed-limiting devices. This recent study hopefully will encourage the NHTSA to embrace mandating the devices, which were found to significantly decrease speed-related crashes involving trucks.
TRUCK ACCIDENT FAST FACT: According to TruckInjuries.com, about 27 percent of drivers of large trucks involved in a fatal truck accident had at least one prior speeding conviction. By contrast, 19 percent of drivers of passenger cars involved in a fatal crash committed previous speeding infractions.
