The U.S Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx, announced a proposal to set maximum speed limits on heavy-duty vehicles driving on U.S. roadways with devices that limit their speed. The effects of this safety proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) would lead to safer and environmentally cleaner roadways.
“This proposal will save lives while ensuring that our nation’s fleet of large commercial vehicles operates efficiently.”
-T.F. Scott Darling III, FMCSA Administrator
The current proposal discusses the various benefits of setting maximum speeds of 60, 65, and 68 miles per hours and shows the potential life saving effects of these maximum speeds. According to NHTSA Administrator mark Rosekind, “This is basic physics, even small increases in speed have large effects on the force of impact. Setting the speed limit of heavy vehicles makes sense for safety and the environment.”
Holding Truck Drivers Accountable
When truck drivers get behind the wheel of their 18 wheeler, they are often carrying loads weighing over 20,000 pounds. Because of the size of their loads, the damage they often do when crashing into a vehicle is catastrophic. The goal of this proposal is to begin to limit this damage by limiting the speed at which a truck driver travel. Though this is a first good step, this proposal falls short of using technology to its fullest to protect the safety of drivers of passenger vehicles like cars and minivans. Technology exists that could: regularly prevent cars from being crushed underneath the trailer after a crash; record if truck drivers are tailgating; and see if truck drivers are using phones or other distracting devices. By required truck drivers to submit this information on a regular basis, governmental agencies and private companies could keep unsafe truckers off the road.
Justice for Families after Speeding Wrongful Death Truck Crash
When an accident involves a semi truck, bus, delivery vehicle or other large commercial vehicle, the knowledge of trucking laws and regulations and past commercial vehicle litigation experience is critically important. A lawyer has to examine many forms of evidence, hire the best accident reconstruction and medical experts, and hold every responsible party accountable.
For over 20 years, attorney Eric Hageman has been doing this successfully and has held semi truck drivers and companies responsible for over $33 million in damages, hospital bills, and pain and suffering for his clients.
Source:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Press+Releases/nhtsa-large-vehicles-speed-limiters-08262016