Road Safe America Applauds US DOT's Grant of Petition Requiring Speed Governor Settings on Heavy Commercial Vehicles

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On January 3, 2011 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an agency of the US Department of Transportation, filed a Grant Decision on a previously filed petition to require speed limiting devices to be set on all heavy commercial vehicles at 68 mph.  This DOT petition was originally filed by Road Safe America, the American Trucking Associations and numerous leading trucking companies in 2006.  

"Road Safe America is very pleased that Administrators Strickland (NHTSA) and Ferro (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) have decided to move this request forward.  Although it has taken a long time, and this action does not end the discussion, a key rule that safety advocates believe will save hundreds – maybe thousands - of American lives annually is closer to reality," said Steve Owings, Co-Founder and President of RSA.  RSA's petition was filed during the previous Administration, so the fact that the current policy-makers reviewed it and determined that it merited further consideration is a very positive indicator.  This petition was filed in September of 2006 and had been pending since then when Administrators Strickland of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Ferro of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration assumed their new roles.  We are very encouraged that they moved so quickly on this important effort once they became the decision-makers.  They have granted this petition in roughly one year after their appointments and we applaud both of them as well as Secretary LaHood for taking action on this in a timely way.  Based on what we have seen, we anticipate quick action in moving on to a rule.

Road Safe America, which has the mission to reduce the collisions between heavy commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles, has worked hard since its founding in 2003 to improve safety on America's highways.  Fatalities resulting from crashes between cars and heavy trucks are at a rate equivalent to two commercial airliners crashing each month, killing all aboard.  This is a pace that is unacceptable.  In fact, the USA is the only 'First World' country that does not already have mandated speed limiter settings on their heavy commercial vehicles.  

"The European Union Countries, Japan, Australia and the heavily-populated provinces of Canada all have laws requiring that speed governors be set at top speeds ranging from 55 mph to 65 mph — Their rate of truck crash related fatalities is lower than ours and we need to catch up," Owings said.  Road Safe America believes the recent move by the DOT will gain traction as more citizens become aware of the lifesaving potential in its becoming law.

Additional efforts by Road Safe America are aimed at improving the lifestyle of the average professional trucker.  "Rules that slow down the top speed of big rigs will certainly save lives.  But, the pay-by-the-mile formula of most in the industry is an incentive to drive fast and long.  RSA thinks that the truckers deserve a professional's wage for the hard and crucial job they do.  We want them to get paid for all of their working hours, whether their truck is moving or not, so that safety is the primary concern for all," explained Tom Hodgson, RSA's Executive Director.

ROAD SAFE AMERICA FOUNDERS

Steve Owings and his wife, Susan, founded Road Safe America in 2003 after their son, Cullum, was killed when his car – stopped in an interstate traffic jam – was crushed from behind by a speeding tractor trailer going seven miles per hour above the posted speed limit on cruise control.  Since that tragic event, Steve and Susan, through Road Safe America, have worked to make our highways safer for all travelers.

Electronic on-board speed governors come as standard equipment on all tractor trailer trucks manufactured since 1992, but not all are activated.  This allows drivers of too many heavy commercial trucks to travel at speeds which prevent them from being able to react safely in an emergency.

SOURCE Road Safe America