NHTSA& EPA want to limit speedof vehicles over 26,000 lbs

J-Rooster wrote:

bluwtr49 wrote:
Regarding the original topic I have not seen anything suggesting privately owned coaches would be affected. Seems to be focused entirely on commercial trucks and buses.

Still, the topic will bear watching.

The article I read in U.S.A. Today said nothing about commercial vehicles! It was all about vehicle weight and, all vehicles 26,000 lbs. and over it will effect.

This is about a Federal requirement. The Feds only regulate commercial interstate commerce traffic. So this new regulation, if it happens, would only apply to private RV's if each state passed a law that parroted the Federal law. Even back during the 55mph speed limit days each state had to pass their own 55 mph law to make it apply but they all did so because the Federal Government threatened to withhold Federal highway funds if they didn't.

Bruce Brown wrote:

Mile High wrote:
yep - one truck going 1 mph slower but they are both maxed, so the faster one pulls out to pass the slower one and we all wait. I can only see it getting worse than it is now.

Exactly - and we see it all the time. :S

And now in NYS they've gone to running snow plows in tandem in the Interstate too - at 35 MPH max. How long do you think it takes that rolling roadblock to start? Worse yet, how safe do you think having that many cars bunched up on winter roads is?

The state would never admit it, but I know this area very, very well. It's very rural and traffic flow is light. There is not a chance this ever would have happened unless the stupid tandem plows had traffic stacked up. There just it's that kind of traffic flow.

This happened in the north bound lane, we were traveling in the south bound lane without issue. The southbound lane wasn't being plowed and traffic wasn't stacked up. Funny how that works...

30 cars & 4 tractor trailers pile up

How fast do you expect to drive in the snow? At 35 MPH those plows would probably be pulling away from me.

No need to bunch up when driving slow but most drives still do. The reason there were not 35 vehicles involved was because the 35th actually had to proper following distance for speed and conditions.

cmeade wrote:

Kayteg1 wrote:
CA has 55 mph for all trailers and that include 3-axles vehicles on some roads.
I don't think there is much left over 26k lb that is not included anyway.
Than lot of experts say that having on the same road different limits for different vehicles is one of the reasons for accidents.
Sure when car line travels at 75 and a truck cuts in it at 55-60 mph, that can make lot of smoke from panic braking.

Remove the "some roads" and insert "ALL roads" also change 3 axle vehicles to 3 axle trucks and you are now correct.

I don't know what the MVC says but the signs on the highways say "vehicles with 3 or more axles".

Now for my 2 cents worth, I for one do like the two speed limit laws. Being a native son and driving in CA, I don't see the in and out of the slow lane by four wheelers and I don't see traffic jams when trucks have to pull into the fast lane to pass. Those things just don't happen.

When the national speed limit was dropped, the accident rate did not raise in CA and according to AAA it did not rise nation wide.

I may bother some long haul guys in AZ but for the most part those guys are really considerate drivers. I like cruising at 55 to 60 and in CA, I think the truck and two law should be raised to 60. Without appreciable increase accidents or decrease in consumption and better braking on all vehicles 60 is good.

Mile High wrote:
yep - one truck going 1 mph slower but they are both maxed, so the faster one pulls out to pass the slower one and we all wait. I can only see it getting worse than it is now.

Exactly - and we see it all the time. :S

And now in NYS they've gone to running snow plows in tandem in the Interstate too - at 35 MPH max. How long do you think it takes that rolling roadblock to start? Worse yet, how safe do you think having that many cars bunched up on winter roads is?

The state would never admit it, but I know this area very, very well. It's very rural and traffic flow is light. There is not a chance this ever would have happened unless the stupid tandem plows had traffic stacked up. There just it's that kind of traffic flow.

This happened in the north bound lane, we were traveling in the south bound lane without issue. The southbound lane wasn't being plowed and traffic wasn't stacked up. Funny how that works...

30 cars & 4 tractor trailers pile up

yep - one truck going 1 mph slower but they are both maxed, so the faster one pulls out to pass the slower one and we all wait. I can only see it getting worse than it is now.

06Fargo wrote:
Ontario speed limits heavy trucks now.

Someone with more experience than me there want to chime in how it's working?

I'm not Canadian but locally we have a lot of Canadian trucks on the Interstate - it's TERRIBLE.

Having something speed limited and unable to maintain a safe and proper flow with traffic is one of the most asinine ideas anyone ever came up with.

By themselves it's not a problem, it's when one slow speed regulated truck pulls out to pass another slow speed regulated truck the rolling roadblock forms quickly.

Let traffic flow, that's what the Interstate was designed for.

I feel that people driving at widely varying speeds on the same road is more dangerous than everyone driving at the same speed even if it is faster. What I would like to see is clarification of the speed limit. Who else remembers the woman that was arrested a few years ago for going too little over the speed limit and holding up traffic? The speed limit should be exactly that, the limit. I expect that with self driving cars programmed to severly limit speeding taking to the highways that speeding will become much more challenging and probably more dangerous. If the limits were actually enforced they could probably be raised 5-10mph and the roads would still be safer.

How about a different solution to the problem of heavy vehicles not being able to stop? All vehicles must be able to pass a brake test on request! A Ford Ranger pulling a 3,000lb trailer with no brakes is legal in most states but is probably more dangerous that the new F450 pulling a 32,000lb trailer with good brakes. I have been very impressed by the brakes in my DP that weighs 25,000lbs. Even so, I will not pull a trailer without brakes. On more than one occasion I have been glad of that.

Ontario speed limits heavy trucks now.

Someone with more experience than me there want to chime in how it's working?

As long as the speed is enforced with a speed limiter then it might actually work.
If the feds expect highway patrol to enforce then there is no point.
Would be interesting if required on new vehicles or require retrofit to renew a license.

JetAonly wrote:
I suppose having a higher passing grade on the drivers test is too simple.

Simple enough but politically unlikely; Americans put high value on their ability to be undisciplined and to put their own interests, no matter how narrow or even foolish, above those of their fellow countrymen. One could argue that blood on the highway is the price we pay for our way of life, like the price paid in blood at Oriskany, Brandywine and Guilford Courthouse.