Road Safe America pushing for speed limiter rule

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Road Safe America is asking drivers to contact the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and demand that a speed limiter rule apply to all trucks that already have the device and weigh 26,000 pounds or more.

The DOT proposed a speed limiter rule, but the enforcement would only apply to new trucks. Road Safe America reports that the majority of commercial trucks on the road already have speed-limiting technology which largely remains turned off.

Road Safe America says that each year more than 1,000 people are killed and more than 20,000 injured as a result of accidents caused by speeding big rigs.

“The government has an immediate opportunity to significantly reduce these horrific crashes on our highways. They are missing it either out of ignorance about the technology already in trucks, or because they are too far removed from the devastating impact of  these accidents to care, or both,” said Steve Owings, co-founder of Road Safe America.

The DOT comment period for the public to be heard on the issue of speed limiters began Sept. 7 and ends in 54 days.

The American Trucking Associations also supports the use of speed limiters.