Citing federal data on large truck crash deaths, the highway safety group Road Safe America is once again calling for truck fleet owners to use speed limiters. Truckers in Arizona should know that 35,882 individuals died in large truck crashes between 2009 and 2017 (the latest year for which there is data).
All but six states saw an increase in these deaths in that eight-year period, with Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Texas and Nevada seeing the largest percentage increases. Texas, California, Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania experienced the greatest number of such deaths in 2017. The non-profit has shown that most of these states have truck speed limits of 70 mph or more, which is too fast for safe operation.
Road Safe America says that speed limiters should be set at a maximum of 65 mph. This will give truckers more time to avoid crashes, and it can help reduce the severity of any collisions that do arise. In 2016, the FMCSA and NHTSA jointly issued a proposal to mandate speed limiters, but it never gained traction. However, 80 percent of respondents to a national survey said they support such a mandate.
The non-profit additionally calls for the use of AEB (automatic emergency braking). This alerts drivers to stationary or slow-moving objects and implements the brakes at the last second when drivers fail to take action.
Vehicle safety technology can prevent some forms of negligent driving, such as speeding, but not all. Unfortunately, too many truckers engage in distracted or impaired driving. Someone who is hurt through the negligence of a trucker could file a claim against the trucking company and be compensated for their medical bills, vehicle damage, lost wages and other applicable losses. This is where a personal injury lawyer can come in. Legal representation is important, especially for the settlement negotiation phase.
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