NHTSA & FMCSA Release Speed Limiter Rule
August 31 2016 - The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds to be equipped with a speed limiting device initially set to a speed no greater than what would be outlined in a final rule. Within the NPRM, the Agencies weigh the benefits of setting the limit at 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour, but will consider other speed limits provided within comments from industry stakeholders. The NPRM was released on Friday, August 26, 2016,
Since this NPRM would apply both to vehicle manufacturers and motor carriers that purchase and operate these vehicles, this joint rulemaking is based on the authority of both NHTSA and FMCSA. The NPRM only requires that new applicable vehicles be equipped with speed limiting devices, but would like industry feedback on whether or not a retrofit should be considered or not.
The agencies estimate that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 60 mph would save 162 to 498 lives annually, limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 65 mph would save 63 to 214 lives annually, and limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 68 mph would save 27 to 96 lives annually. Although the agencies believe that the 60 mph alternative would result in additional safety benefits, they are not able to quantify the 60 mph alternative with the same confidence as the 65 mph and 68 mph alternatives.
The agencies’ analysis found that crashes involving heavy vehicles traveling faster are more deadly than crashes involving heavy vehicles traveling at lower speeds. Given this fact, NHTSA is proposing to require multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and school buses, with a GVWR of more than 11,793.4 kilograms (26,000 pounds) to be equipped with a speed limiting device. As manufactured and sold, each of these vehicles would be required by NHTSA to have its device set to not exceed a specified speed. NHTSA is proposing a lead time of three years from publication of a final rule for manufacturers to meet the proposed requirements.
FMCSA is proposing a complementary Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) requiring multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses and school buses with a GVWR of more than 11,793.4 kilograms (26,000 pounds) operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with a speed limiting device meeting the requirements of the proposed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) applicable to the vehicle at the time of manufacturing, including the requirement that the device be set to a speed not greater than the specified speed. Motor carriers operating such vehicles in interstate commerce would be required to maintain the speed limiting devices for the service life of the vehicle.
To view the NPRM, please click HERE.
Since this NPRM would apply both to vehicle manufacturers and motor carriers that purchase and operate these vehicles, this joint rulemaking is based on the authority of both NHTSA and FMCSA. The NPRM only requires that new applicable vehicles be equipped with speed limiting devices, but would like industry feedback on whether or not a retrofit should be considered or not.
The agencies estimate that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 60 mph would save 162 to 498 lives annually, limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 65 mph would save 63 to 214 lives annually, and limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 68 mph would save 27 to 96 lives annually. Although the agencies believe that the 60 mph alternative would result in additional safety benefits, they are not able to quantify the 60 mph alternative with the same confidence as the 65 mph and 68 mph alternatives.
The agencies’ analysis found that crashes involving heavy vehicles traveling faster are more deadly than crashes involving heavy vehicles traveling at lower speeds. Given this fact, NHTSA is proposing to require multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and school buses, with a GVWR of more than 11,793.4 kilograms (26,000 pounds) to be equipped with a speed limiting device. As manufactured and sold, each of these vehicles would be required by NHTSA to have its device set to not exceed a specified speed. NHTSA is proposing a lead time of three years from publication of a final rule for manufacturers to meet the proposed requirements.
FMCSA is proposing a complementary Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) requiring multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses and school buses with a GVWR of more than 11,793.4 kilograms (26,000 pounds) operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with a speed limiting device meeting the requirements of the proposed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) applicable to the vehicle at the time of manufacturing, including the requirement that the device be set to a speed not greater than the specified speed. Motor carriers operating such vehicles in interstate commerce would be required to maintain the speed limiting devices for the service life of the vehicle.
To view the NPRM, please click HERE.
