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NHTSA Proposes Speed Limiters for Trucks to Save Lives and Fuel Costs

truck accidentThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are considering a proposal that would require heavy-duty vehicles be equipped with devices limiting their speed.

Both organizations predict that imposing this rule would save approximately 27 to 500 lives per year and save more than $1 billion annually in fuel costs.

The measure would apply to vehicles that are over 26,000 pounds, which may include trucks, buses and other passenger vehicles. Regulators have considered different maximum speeds – 60, 65 and 68 miles per hour – but they will seek public input about which speed limit would be the most beneficial for drivers and others on the road.

Staying Safe Around Trucks and Other Large Vehicles

Even though federal regulators tout the potential benefits of speed-limiting devices, it is worth noting that large trucks and buses make up only a small percentage of the total accidents that occur on the road.

For example, there were six million car accidents in 2014 but just 476,000 involved large vehicles like trucks and buses.

However, accidents with these large vehicles are far more likely to result in serious injuries and deaths. Drivers can avoid these dangerous collisions by following some of these simple rules:

  • Avoid driving in a truck’s blind spots, which are directly behind or directly in front of a truck
  • Allow extra space when passing
  • Never pass from the right lane
  • Keep an eye out for wide turns
  • Remember that trucks and large vehicles take longer to stop and they need additional space to stop
  • Watch for slow-traveling trucks on highways and interstates

If you or a loved one has been severely injured or killed in a truck accident, you could be entitled to compensation for the physical, emotional and psychological damage you have suffered. Schmidt Kramer’s truck accident attorneys have helped many victims recover compensation.

Contact our skilled attorneys today for a free consultation by calling (717) 888-8888.