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On August 26, 2016, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced in a press release that the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) propose equipping heavy-duty vehicles with devices that limit their speeds on U.S. roadways. The devices would be required to be set to a maximum speed, a safety measure that the agencies believe could save lives and more than $1billion in fuel costs each year. 

Safety standards would be established, according to the agencies’ proposal, which would require all newly-manufactured U.S. trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating more than 26,000 pounds to come equipped with speed limiting devices. The proposal discusses the benefits of setting the maximum speed at 60, 65, and 68 miles per hour, but the agencies will consider other speeds based on public input. (The public is encouraged to submit their comments on the proposed rule at www.regulations.gov.) 

Although trucks make up only 4.3 percent of vehicles on the road today the statistical likelihood of a truck causing a fatal injury is a far higher percentage, according to the NHTSA. 

• Of the approximately 411,000 police-reported crashes involving large trucks in 2014, 3,424 (1 percent) resulted in at least one fatality, and 82,000 (20 percent) resulted in at least one non-fatal injury.
• A total of 3,660 people died in large truck crashes in 2014. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.
• Approximately 61 percent of all fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred on rural roads, 26 percent on urban Interstate highways, and 13 percent in other locations.
• “Speeding of Any Kind” was the most frequent driver-related factor for large trucks. 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles under riding trucks in crashes. 

The freight a truck carries, according to FMCSA, can make truck accidents worse. In addition to the actual height of the cargo, many trucks carry hazardous cargo making accidents even more dangerous. Hazardous materials were present on 3percent of the trucks involved in fatal crashes, and on 2 percent of the trucks involved in non-fatal crashes. These materials were released from the truck in 12 percent of fatal and non-fatal crashes. Flammable liquids like gas and oil accounted for 76 percent of the releases in fatal crashes. 

Trucks are getting bigger every year. The size of trucks means more dangerous highways. Should a fully-loaded large truck collide with a passenger car, the results can be catastrophic. In the United States, approximately 70 percent of all freight is transported via trucks. An estimated 15.5 million trucks currently operate in the country, with over 3.5 million truck drivers nationwide. As the economy improves and more Americans utilize online shopping, trucks will continue to get bigger in order to accommodate increased demand, according to TruckInfo.net. 

“Limiting speed devices on large trucks and buses could save countless lives and prevent many devastating injuries. When you or a loved one is injured in an accident caused by a large truck or bus, the trucking and/or bus company and the drivers should be held responsible. After seeking medical treatment, contact our experienced team of truck/bus accident attorneys to determine your rights,” said Naples Vehicle Accident Attorney Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Collier County Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.