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Saturday, June 23, 2007 1:03 AM CDT
Our View: Governor should sign bill hiking truck speed limit
By the JG/T-C Editorial Board
editorial@jg-tc.com
In spite of some reservations, we believe Gov. Rod Blagojevich should sign the bill to boost the truck speed limit from 55 per hour to 65.
Establishing a uniform speed limit would enable large trucks to “go with the flow” of traffic, hopefully, reducing the need for cars to weave around slower moving trucks. It would also curb, hopefully, tailgating.
We say “hopefully,” because this is all assuming everybody will drive 65. But, the fact is that many drivers, both truckers and motorists, regularly exceed the posted speed limit.
Opponents of the bill argue it would result in truck drivers exceeding the 65 mph limit, as many of them currently violated the 55 limit; and it would increase the likelihood and severity of accidents.
Which is a legitimate concern, given truckers driving for many hours sometimes doze off, which is dangerous enough, but at a higher speed limit could even more drastically reduce their prospects of regaining control of their rigs before it is too late.
Even alert, traveling at higher speeds will reduce the time a trucker has to react if he has to brake to avoid an accident.
As for motorists — and truckers –— who tailgate, it’s unlikely that irresponsible action will diminish much. Faster traffic will mean faster tailgaters.
Despite all this, it doesn’t make much sense to continue with two separate speed limits: one for cars and another for trucks. The existing disparity in the speed limits is too great.
There are several things that can be done to mitigate the potential increase in deadly accidents. One would require the Illinois State Police to crack down on truck drivers who continue to drive when they need sleep. It’s not difficult to spot them, their vehicles roam from one side of their lane to the other.
Another action police can take is to crack down on speeders, whether they’re truckers or ordinary motorists. We expect motorists to exceed the posted speed limit by a couple of miles. That’s an American tradition.
But, truckers and drivers of other vehicles who think they’re in a NASCAR race should be pulled over and ticketed. They’re a danger to themselves and other motorists.
We’d also like to see police crack down on drivers who insist on hogging the passing lane. Illinois recently enacted a law making such driving illegal. Now’s the time to enforce it.
The measure, having passed both houses of the legislature, has been sitting on Blagojevich’s desk for some time. The governor has vetoed similar measure on two occasions.
This time, he should sign it. We feel the benefits of a uniform speed limit outweighs its drawbacks.
JG/T-C Editorial Board
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Anyway wrote on Jun 23, 2007 8:22 AM: