Heavy Vehicle Speed Limiters Talking Points

Contact Your Congressional Representative and Senators in Support of Senate Bill 3005

In your message to your Senators – if you would like, add a personal account or interest in the speed limiting rule, and then ask your Senator to actively support Senate Bill 3005, The Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019. It would require all new and existing commercial trucks with a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more to use their speed-limiting devices, which must be set to a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour, or 70 mph with the use of automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, and be used at all times while in operation. The maximum speed requirement would also be extended to existing trucks of that size, even the very old ones without built in speed limiting capability (manufactured pre-1990’s).

In your message to your Representative – if you would like, add a personal account or interest in the speed limiting rule, and then ask your Congressman/woman to co-sponsor a House version of Senate Bill 3005, The Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2019. It would require all new and existing commercial trucks with a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more to use their built in speed-limiting devices, which must be set to a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour, or 70 mph with the use of automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control, and be used at all times while in operation. The maximum speed requirement would also be extended to existing trucks of that size, even the very old ones without built in speed limiting capability (manufactured before the 1990’s).

Talking Points:

Speed Limiters Improve Safety

A study conducted by the Unites States Department of Transportation concluded that trucks using speed limiters were in half as many highway-speed collisions as those not using speed limiters.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, speed-related, at-fault truck crashes fell by 73% after mandatory speed limiter technology took effect in the Canadian province in 2009.

According to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 65-68 mph would save 27-214 lives annually.

Speed Limiters Are Cost Effective

Speed limiting capability is already on all large trucks with electronic engines (making up the vast majority of large trucks) so there is no capital cost for this technology.

Limiting speeds to 65 mph helps improve fuel efficiency resulting in savings for motor carriers of all sizes. It also helps reduce maintenance costs for brakes and tires.

Speed Limiters Are Supported by the Public

Public Support for the Required Use of Speed Limiters in Large Trucks