Letters to the Editor: Speed Limiters (Continued)

n testimony on the hours of service issue last fall, James Walker, an automotive consultant, spoke of the importance of setting speed limits based on the 85th percentile rule — i.e., the speed at or below which 85% of drivers operate their vehicles.

(Click here for previous story, "ATA Backs Setting Limits on New Trucks at 68 Mph")

“Recent [Michigan] State Police data shows the 85th percentile speed for heavy trucks is 64 mph. A higher limit will merely be closer to reality,” Walker said.

“Reducing differential speeds is one key to this smoother and safer traffic flow,” Walker said. “No safety benefit accrues to setting posted speed limits below the 85th percentile . . . and no safety benefit accrues from differential speed limits for trucks versus cars.”

Michael Gully

b>Vice President

i>Gully Transportation Inc.

uincy, Ill.

I am concerned that this kind of regulation is even considered. If it passes, what is next?

The industry is overwhelmed with complex and often unnecessary and illogical rules and regulations that cost untold amounts of time and money — and to what end? Yes, speed can be a contributing factor to some accidents, but I believe education could do more for the situation than just singling out our industry and slowing trucks down.

Why not slow cars down while we are at it? Remove split speed limits and end dangerous lane restrictions.

Robust education reform is needed, starting with new drivers and ultimately including a mandated course for all drivers to educate and enlighten motorists about the dangers of not knowing how large vehicles perform in conjunction with automobiles.

I am all for making it safer, but there is a right and wrong way of doing this.

Perhaps we should stop and actually think for a moment, instead of pointing a finger at the trucking industry and making excuses that it’s the trucking industry’s fault. Take a good, hard look at the root of the problem and fix it right.

Kelley Akin

i>Traffic Manager

ustom Nonwoven Inc.

ew Albany, Miss.

Statistics are an interesting thing. When we are told that one-third of all fatal traffic accidents are the result of speeding, the natural conclusion — in an article about trucking — is that one-third of all traffic fatalities are the result of truck drivers who are speeding.

While I do not have the statistics in front of me, I’ll wager that this is not the case.

Feel-good policy and legislation is not the answer. Intelligent policy developed by studying actual statistical data that leads to a thorough understanding of root causes, and implementation of measures that address those causes, will result in fewer highway deaths — not just knee-jerk reactions that look good in the headlines.

Allen Russell

i>Corporate Traffic Manager

magePoint Inc.

lorence, Ky.

These letters appear in the March 6 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.