The FMCSA Wants To Hear From You

I think it's likely because it creates automatic following distance because most everyone else is going away from you. I'm wondering if that benefit would go away if everyone was governed to the same speed.

Following distance is a conscious choice. A professional needs to have the discipline to do whatever it takes to be as safe as possible. I think you're right in a way that the slow speed is causing everyone to be moving away from you. But that's only helping people who would otherwise be tailgating if they were in a truck that would run fast enough to catch people.

Right, that's what I mean. It benefits Schneider because in a way it's forcing following distance at highway speeds and probably preventing some accidents. But that might go away if everyone was governed. And I agree that professionals and really every driver should be maintaining a safe following distance and obeying the speed limit, but if they did there'd be no reason to be talking about limiters.

I agree on that point Kurt, but even 4 wheelers will pass you, then pull back in your lane and then slow down. This happens to me a lot, and every time I have to slow down to open up the gap between myself and the other driver.

I agree with Brett, that it all comes down to being a courteous driver, and not making risky maneuvers, both by trucks and cars.

I'll retract part of my earlier statement, because I do have one caveat. Perhaps a speed limiter in some cases might be a good thing. We all know that most people like to drive 5 over the speed limit, the problem is that in some parts of the country, they are setting speed limits at 80 and I think even 85 mph. I do not think a truck needs to be driving 85mph to 90mph. That's just too much for a big rig.

You have to look at the capability of the tire. Some of these tires have speed caps, and some have speed caps at a certain load. By pushing the truck to higher speeds, you put that tire closers to the fail point, creating a hazard.

Of course being limited doesn't 100% ensure safe following distance. I guess my point is that Schneider's experience with limiting would seem to support the idea that it reduces accidents, but i'm wondering if it would hold up if everyone was limited.

My question would be, what data are they looking at that makes them think that limiting everyone would reduce accidents? Is it simply the idea that slower is safer, or are lots of accidents directly caused by trucks speeding? My feeling is kind of what Brett said, that it's not a speed of X miles per hour, but an inappropriate speed or following distance that causes some accidents.

I think one of the main issues being brought up by advocates for speed limiters is impact severity. They are saying, and I don't recall the numbers, that every 5mph adds more force into an accident.

My question would be, what data are they looking at that makes them think that limiting everyone would reduce accidents? Is it simply the idea that slower is safer, or are lots of accidents directly caused by trucks speeding?

I'm not sure what data they're looking at but I think it's the basic idea that slower is safer. I mean, take it to the extreme. What if everyone was governed at 10 mph. Imagine how safe the highways would be! We'd save tens of thousands of lives every year.

So it's really a matter of finding a balance I guess. People aren't going to be too happy being governed at bicycle speeds but how many people dying on the highways is acceptable? As gruesome as that sounds, that is the reality of it. They're trying to give people a reasonable speed to travel without making it too dangerous.

And I feel all vehicles should be governed, not just trucks. But it's not a valid argument to say that if cars aren't governed, trucks shouldn't be either. Having the largest, heaviest, and most dangerous vehicles governed is certainly better than nothing. But having everyone governed is the safest way to do it. You simply have to enforce following distances and aggressive driving. With today's technology that wouldn't be hard to do.

I think FedEx and UPS should be governed. Those guys fly by with the double trailers and don't even know they hit you. My safety dept told me "FedEx hits us more than anyone. They are terrible and they rarely stop or even know it".

I was driving through VA and the speed limit is 70mph. But the sign says " Trucks driving below 70 stay right" or something of that nature. In NJ the limit was 55mph and the sign said "this IS your warning". In IN the limit was 60mph and the sign said " break our laws see our jails"... IN must be really serious too cause I had a oic of a "No parking. Violators will be prosecuted". Prosecuted???? For parking????

So I think a good point was made about enforcing the laws. I don't mind driving a governed truck. I have a tendency to slow down when I need to. There are plenty of times I'm slowing down for curves or more populated towns before the speed limit change is posted. I don't understand the need to out race someone. I don't see the need to fly around a corner.

Its not my truck... And even if it was and I could drive 80...that's not me. I have a Mustang GT premium with 420 HP at home that can do about 160 mph. I admit... I took it out for a stretch ONE time over 100. Otherwise I do speed limit cause cops want to catch me. But that is also why I never had any tickets or points at 42 yrs old. I'm one of those old lady drivers you all curse as u drive by hahhaha

Definitely a conscious and sometimes moral decision on how slow or fast to drive. I don't feel anyone should get to blast down the road nor do I ever feel the need to whether a trucker 4 wheeler motorcycle whoever! I was thinking more along the lines if trucks all are enforced to be limited at 65, and the highway/interstate speed limits are 70 (or 80 in TX) then this is a problem. I suppose it depends on where do they set the limit? Fastest posted speed limit in the USA? That wouldn't be so bad really. But I still don't agree with it being a government mandate. I'm more than fine with companies that decide to turn down the engine and cap the speed, that's their option as a company. If there's any issue there's an enforcement of the current laws issue. We don't need the government to literally force us not to speed, they need to crack down on the dangerous motorists who do and recklessly at that. Limit us? Limit everyone IMO, see how well it flies.