The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering adopting several new rules and regulations next year governing commercial truck drivers and trucking companies in an effort to reduce the number of commercial truck accidents, according to FreightWaves magazine.
Proposed speed limiters for commercial trucks
According to the FreightWaves article, one of the most controversial rules proposed by the FMCSA would involve installing devices on certain commercial trucks that limit the maximum speed at which such trucks can travel.
The proposed speed limiter devices would apply to “heavy-duty truck engines equipped with electronic engine control units,” FreightWaves reported. The proposed maximum speed limit has not been determined and will be finalized in May 2025.
However, an FMCSA proposal in May 2023 concerning the proposed speed limiters called for restricting such trucks to a top speed of 68 mph. Many commercial truck drivers and trucking companies strongly opposed the proposed speed limiters.
The FMCSA “received a lot of criticism for the speed limiter proposed rule,” Earl Adams, former FMCSA deputy administrator and chief counsel under former administrator Robin Hutcheson, said in an interview with FreightWaves.
How common are speed-related truck accidents?
The short answer? Very common. That’s why the FMCSA proposed requiring the installation of speed limiters in certain commercial trucks. The FMCSA hopes such speed limiters will reduce the number of commercial truck accidents caused by speeding truck drivers.
“What was on our mind was the fact that we have 40,000 deaths on the highways per year, with 3,000 coming from commercial trucks, and a large percentage of those were speed-related,” Adams said. “So if we can use technology to limit the speed and thus can save lives — that’s the reason we took this on and are so committed to trying to solve it.”
Proposed rules for autonomous driving systems (ADS)
Other proposed FMCSA rules being considered involve driverless commercial trucks operated using autonomous driving systems (ADS), including partially-driverless trucks and potentially fully-driverless trucks in the future. Such rules are still being developed and could change over the next year or so.
In general, the proposed ADS rules involve:
- Enhanced inspections for fully or partially driverless commercial trucks.
- Certification requirements for individuals who inspect driverless trucks.
- Data gathering requirements for driverless trucks.
- Federal notification requirements for trucks with ADS operating systems involved in interstate commerce.
Proposed rule for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems
Another significant FCMSA rule change slated to go into effect next year involves automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems installed on most commercial trucks. Adams said the proposed AEB systems on commercial trucks would be similar to those currently installed on many passenger vehicles.
However, not everyone is in favor of the proposed AEB systems. The National Association of Small Trucking Companies (NASTC), which represents many small-business commercial truck carriers, believes the AEB systems will be expensive and raise costs for companies and consumers, according to FreightWaves.
In addition, AEB systems could make commercial trucks more dangerous since they could apply the brakes without warning. “The suddenness of the device’s action causes near-misses and may require evasive action on the professional driver’s part, “ said NASTC President David Owen in comments submitted on the AEB proposed rule. “At present and for the foreseeable future, AEBs present more of a threat to road safety than a solution.”
Legal help for Indiana truck accident victims
The laws governing commercial trucks are constantly changing. That’s why if you were injured or a loved one died in an accident involving a commercial truck, it’s critical that you have an experienced attorney on your side who knows the rules and regulations and can hold negligent trucking companies and truckers accountable.
Our Indiana truck accident lawyers at Boughter Sinak, LLC, have years of experience handling complex legal cases involving large commercial vehicles. For example, our case results include a $2.2 million recovery for a claim involving a trucker who fell asleep at the wheel and caused serious injuries in a multi-vehicle collision.
Get the Indiana law firm that gets results. Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation to see how we can help you. We have two offices conveniently located in Fort Wayne and South Bend and handle cases statewide.