Allowing for high-speed big rigs clearly unsafe

Seat-belt Iowa has consistently been in the dirty top five states for having a higher than average percent of fatal crashes where large trucks are involved. Check ftp://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/FARS/NCSA. See data on large truck involvement in fatal crashes by state.

The following states limit large trucks to a lower speed limit than other vehicles. Their fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles, during 2007: California, 1.22; Illinois, 1.16; Indiana, 1.26; Michigan, 1.04; Ohio, 1.13; Oregon, 1.31; Texas, 1.11; and Washington, 1. Overall average 1.15.

National average during 2007 was 1.36. Seat-belt Iowa did 1.43.

The following is for states that allow big rigs to go 75 mph: Arizona, 1.7; Colorado, 1.14; Nebraska, 1.32; Nevada, 1.68; New Mexico, 1.54; North Dakota, 1.42; Oklahoma, 1.61; Utah, 1.42; and Wyoming, 1.6. Overall average 1.5. Check out www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesFatalitiesFatalityRates.aspx.

The “need to speed to make a living” is bunk. Some good trucking firms limit their trucks to a lower speed limit anyway, and they make a good living. I remember when big rigs were limited to 50 mph in Iowa and 45 mph is Wisconsin, all goods got delivered anyway.

Herman Lenz

Sumner