Should DOT mandate 68mph speed limiters?

I just don't see how everyone can say that putting limits on how fast i go is going to stop the jerks that tailgate from doing that,All i see is a bunch of cowtowers that are in a slow company truck crying becouse they get passed all the time.like I said I am a profesional driver and a bussiness owner,and it just ticks me off when you want to slow ME down just becouse you had one bad apple tailgate you.

 

1. DO not punish all for the actions of a few.

2. keep right except to pass

3. Target dangerous drivers. Dangerous is not necessarily related to speed.

4. If all trucks are within 3mph there will be allot of slow passes, and 4wheelers will make dangerous choices.

This is america, you cannot legislate safe driving, all we can do is enforce current laws. Target dangerous drivers from unmarked/mixed police vehicles, and put more of an enforcement emphisis on safe driving instead of ticketing people for simply speeding. Law enforcement is lazy, the gov't buys 3 different vehicles which are easily picked out in traffic, and causes people to temporarily drive sane, mixing up the make and models of cars will allow law enforcement to blend in and ticket drivers of all kinds for driving aggressivly. Problem is law enforcement is more about revenue and less about actual safety, imho.


K

 

This wouldn't even be a consideration IF the majority of drivers actually followed the posted speed limit.

How many of you actually run the speed limit 100% of the time?? (I'm talking those that knowingly make the effort, everyone slips up once in a while)

How many of you just exceed by "only 5mph"???

How many run just 10mph over???

How many don't care (about posted limits) and just run as fast as they can get away with???

Every single time I go into a western state (NM/TX/OK/KS), the trucks are usually running WELL OVER the posted speed limits. If I run the actual speed limit on RT54 through TX/OK/NM, I will have truck after truck passing me and they literally run away from me (and they get mad because I am "holding them up", I have a cb too...). And don't get me started on I40 in TX and NM where the speed limit is 75mph...

The guys that are getting defensive about the whole speed govenor thing, I agree, they should not limit every truck to a predetermined speed. But remember it is YOUR responsibility to follow posted limits. When these govenors are finally enforced, the speeders will have no one to blame but themselves.

The next time a driver blows by you, as you cruise the posted limit, you can remember it is drivers like that who are ultimately going to cause the governors to be a requirement.

steved

 

OK now take the same point and go to Illinois where the speed limit is 55mph and count how many trucks are going 65mph becouse thats what there governed at so just becouse I can go 75mph plus doesnt mean thats what I do,and another point how many cars do you see dodging in and out of traffic and causing most of the accidents,let the government talk about puting governers on them and see the uproar.so as far as you point there are many sides to this argument but you just want to point out one.YES I am a profesional and drive that way.but I dont need someone that drives a slow truck to whine about me passing them in a 75mph zone becouse they can only do 65mph.IMO

 

Why are most cars governed at 122mph when most states have a 70mph speed limit? Like it was said above, you can't legislate safe driving. It's been proven that split speed limit states have far more accidents than same speed states. Thats just what we need ALL TRUCKS GOING 68mph and CARS GOING 80mph. That would be extremely dangerous. You would have more and more 4wheelers taking extreme risk to past slow moving trucks and that will result in more accidents. Being able to pull away from congested traffic and put distance between yourself and others is neccesary many time on the road. Less government regulation and better education from driving schools is what we need. Just because my truck will do triple digits does'nt mean that thats how I drive, but its sure nice to have the extra speed and horses when I need them. You guys with that company mentality need to do more reading and less typing and you might just learn something about trucking. I will say this, the day that the DOT tells me that my truck has to be governed at 68mph is the day that I will walk away from truckdriving.

 

:Ahmen: finely someone that sees it without the slow company truck mentalitythey just don't get it.

 

I said nothing about split speed limits. That is one of my biggest peeves going...the trucks are a moving target. I don't think they should allow split speed limits. I hate OH (and IL??) because of that...

I also said nothing pomoting the governing trucks, I am against that. But the reason it is going to happen is because of the guys cruising 20mph over the posted limit.

They can regulate the "drivers" because it is a JOB. Owning a car isn't a JOB. So they are going to target the driver in an attempt to regulate the driver to prevent accidents with the 4wheeler...maybe 80k pounds handles better at 68mph when a 4wheeler cuts you off?????? I understand the goal, but the method they are proposing SUCKs.

And as far as the cars not being governed...fine. But how many of them carry mass quantities of hazardous cargo??

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing for this...but there is an underlying reason they want to do this...

steved

 

The companys that are on board with the ATA are companys that already govern there trucks so they look at it as a way to keep drivers that would otherwise go to a different company becouse there trucks run a little faster,but there not looking at the real reason that drivers leave those company's,becouse they **** and treat there drivers like ****

 

First, to the four wheeled commuter jockeys, let me say this. The only real similarity to motoring around in your cute little ride, and an eighty thousand pound CMV is "John Boy an' Billy's Big Show" on the FM radio. After that it all gets different. Don't come here and tell truck drivers how to drive trucks. It makes you sound foolish. You aren't, are you?

To make CMV driving affordable a driver should:

1. Stay out of trouble with the law.

Most LEOs won't give you a second look unless you're exceeding the limit by more than 10 mph.
Most LEOs won't give you a second look unless you're driving too fast for conditions.
Most LEOs won't give you a second look unless you're being overly aggressive.

2. Keep cost low

68 mph is the "sweet spot" for optimum fuel economy in a Class 8 CMV.
Busting through the wind at 80 mph is a huge load for the engine. That makes it thirsty.
Faster speeds gets the tires hotter and wears them faster. Ditto the brakes when you need them.
Keep the left door shut. This will reduce expenses, increase revenues, and eliminate the need for hammering down to make up for lost time.

Should all trucks be governed, by the government (little word play), at 68 mph? I think not. It reaks of socialism, to begin with. We're sliding down that slippery slope, at ungoverned speeds, fast enough. The Feds can induce the trucking companies to self govern with targeted tax cuts, and the other breaks for those who comply. However, if a person, or company chooses not to participate it should be their right if they're willing to ante up the extra cost (fuel, tires, wear & tear, and taxes).

On the subject of tailgating. One of the primary rules of the road is "slower traffic move right". There are almost as many signs (white rectangular with black letters = the law) stating this as there are speed limit signs. Now, if you're not going with the flow (shall we say being pokey) while occupying what is the equivalent of the truck's passing lane, and a big mean truck is overtaking you, common sense (and the law) dictates that you remove yourself from the path if you can safely do so (hint = move right). Chances are, you're not paying attention to your rearview because you're trying to talk on the cell, monitor your GPS, and manage that double latte from Starbucks. How are you gonna' know that truck would like to pass you if the driver stays back the three truck lengths that constitute not tailgating? Me, I let the offending party know they're messing up by maintaining my speed until I pretty much need to hit the brakes to keep from hitting you. Remember, from my elevated observation point, I can see, in advance, if there might be a problem that would cause you to brake suddenly. What I'm describing isn't as unsafe as it might appear to you when you first look in the mirror. I never blow the horn, shake my fist, or curse you. I just let you know, once, you're in the way. If that don't work, and you're a hard-head, I'll back off to get a run at you on your right side when conditions permit. Now we're talking dangerous.

 

very well put:smt023 :smt023 :smt023