Truck-speed bill harmful to motorists

Truck-speed bill harmful to motorists

Here we go again. Motorists should know SB 1913, which raises speed limits for large tractor-trailer trucks to 65 mph from 55 mph on some four-lane highways outside the Chicago area, is awaiting a signature from the governor. This comes a year after truck speeds were raised on interstates in Illinois. The argument from the trucking industry then — and now — is that cars and trucks traveling at the same speed is safer. In fact, Mr. Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Midwest Truckers Association, was quoted in a 2009 newspaper article as saying, “Most every study out there will tell you the safest form of traffic flow is when all traffic is moving at the same speed.”

Except that’s not what happened. According to IDOT, in 2009, when cars and trucks were traveling different speeds, a record low of 70 fatalities occurred where tractor-trailer trucks were involved. In 2010, when the speed limit was set at 65 mph for both cars and trucks, fatalities involving tractor-trailer trucks rose almost 46 percent. And, in the first three months of 2011, fatalities involving large trucks were on pace with 2010.

The mountain of evidence against this legislation does not bode well for the safety of Illinois motorists. The danger of this legislation is explained by simple physics and cannot be overlooked: commercial trucks traveling at higher speeds take longer to brake and the increase from 55 to 65 mph increases a commercial truck’s impact force by nearly 40 percent.

We urge Gov. Pat Quinn to veto this legislation.

Brad Roeber

Regional President

AAA Chicago