Safety Concerns Rise as DOT Scraps Truck Speed-Limiter Proposal
The U.S. Department of Transportation has withdrawn a proposed federal rule that would have required speed-limiting devices on large commercial trucks—a move that is raising alarm among highway safety advocates.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the rollback as part of a broader package of regulatory changes aimed at easing restrictions on the trucking industry, reported Safety + Health magazine. The now-abandoned rule would have mandated speed limiters on trucks, buses, and other vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds. Originally proposed in 2016, the rule considered capping speeds at 60, 65, or 68 miles per hour to reduce the severity of crashes involving large trucks.
The proposed rule generated nearly 16,000 public comments, many of which came from truckers. Concerns included the inability to accelerate to avoid a crash and dangerous speed differentials that could cause accidents. But for motorists who share the road with 80,000-pound tractor-trailers, the rollback raised serious safety questions, since speed-limiting devices are intended to prevent high-speed crashes involving heavy trucks, which often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities—especially for those in smaller vehicles.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also revealed new pilot programs to test greater flexibility in “Hours of Service” rules, allowing drivers to split rest breaks into shorter blocks and pause their driving clocks for up to three hours. While some in the industry see this as added flexibility, others worry it could increase fatigue-related risks on the road.
The American Trucking Associations had supported the speed-limiter rule, calling it a data-driven approach to safety. But with the proposal now shelved, safety advocates fear that the push for deregulation is coming at the expense of lives.
Crashes involving large trucks can be especially devastating. Their size and weight can turn even minor collisions into fatal events, particularly on highways where speeds are high. If you have been injured in a trucking accident and you believe the driver or company that owned the truck was negligent in some way, please contact us. Talking to a top Philadelphia law firm for trucking accidents may help you better understand your legal options and make an informed decision as to the next steps to take.