DIYbanter - View Single Post - US wants to force lower speeds on truck and bus drivers

Tekkie®

posted for all of us...

On Thu, 1 Sep 2016 18:28:06 -0400, "Kurt V. Ullman"
wrote:

On 9/1/16 5:27 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per burfordTjustice:
A new proposal Friday would impose a nationwide limit by electronically capping speeds with a device on newly made U.S. vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Regulators are considering a cap of 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour, though that could change.

Whatever the speed limit, drivers would be physically prevented from exceeding it.

The government said capping speeds for large vehicles will reduce the
+1,115 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks+ that occur each year and
save $1 billion in fuel costs.

"But Norita Taylor, spokeswoman for the 157,000-member Owner Operator
Independent Drivers Association, said her group has opposed the speed
limiters because they create dangerous interactions between vehicles as
faster cars slow down for trucks. "Differentials in speed increase
interactions between vehicles, which increases the likelihood of
crashes," Taylor said."

Understood she's a paid industry spin doctor... but, even so, that rings
true to me given the lack of lane discipline in the USA.

There are plenty of studies showing that differences in speed between
trucks and cars in an important part of safety on highways. Also, you
will note that that it said it will reduce the 1100 crashes but not by
how much. The other thing is even if started today, given the average
age of the fleet you won't see enough trucks on the roads to make a
difference for 10 or 15 years at the earliest.

I see a thriving business in disconnecting these things

Maybe have VW design them?

--
Tekkie