Should Semi Trucks Have Devices to Limit Their Speed?
The Canadian government recently finished a study to determine the pros and cons of placing speed limiters on trucks. The legislature in Ontario, Canada has recently approved a law that requires semi trucks to have a device that limits their speed to 65 miles per hour.
The study regarding the safety of placing speed limiters on semi trucks driving on the highways showed mixed results. Regarding safety and the number of accidents, the study found that the speed limiting device would likely increase safety when the roads were not congested. However, in areas of increased traffic, speed limiters on semi trucks may actually increase the number of accidents. Additionally, if the speed limiters caused more vehicles to pass a semi truck, that could certainly increase the number of serious accidents.
Apparently, 33 other countries have laws that mandate speed limiters, however no studies have been done to determine whether these speed limiters have improved safety conditions on the roads and reduced accidents. There are no such laws in Florida or anywhere else in the U.S.
