Illinois Injury Law Blog

Some motorists have been concerned about the potential danger of the speed limit being raised for trucks in Illinois because increasing the speed limit will likely increase the number of trucking accidents in Chicago involving other cars.

Allowing commercial truck drivers to drive faster puts other motorists at risk considering some trucking companies don't always require their drivers to comply with federal trucking regulations. Many truck drivers are negligent when it comes to hours-of-service rules, complying with commercial truck inspections, driving under the influence or failing to secure a load before they begin their travel. Dangers are magnified if speed is added to these non-compliant behaviors.

Illinois injury lawyers know that the concerns are legitimate knowing that up until now trucks have been required to travel no more than 55 mph but at the same time are still involved in almost 10 percent of fatal crashes in our state.

Legitimate concerns just became very real, according to recent news reported in The State Journal-Register. Governor Pat Quinn recently signed legislation that hiked the speed limit for commercial trucks to 65 mph, like other motorists, on four-lane highways outside of Chicago starting January 1, 2012. Trucks traveling inside Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Will counties will need to maintain the former speed limit of 55 mph. Senate Bill 1913 passed the Senate back in April and was sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting a signature.

A 2009 study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that between 1995 and 2005, approximately 12,545 fatalities were credited to speed as a cause that resulted in a crash. Prior to 1995, the national speed limit was 55 mph except on rural interstates. Speed limits were federalized to 55 mph statewide or else states would risk losing federal funding in the mid-1970s. In 1987, federal speed requirements loosened for rural interstates to 65 mph and were completely rescinded in 1995. Deaths on rural interstates increased 25 to 30 percent nationwide when speed limits were increased in 1987 from 55 to 65 mph.

The new state law is slated to take effect right about the time that winter driving hazards will be at their worst in Illinois. Motorists can only hope that truck drivers will keep the following speed-related safety tips in mind when trying to go the extra mile in less time. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration suggests:

-Speed should be reduced by 1/3 on wet roads and by 50 percent or more on snow packed roads.
-Trucks should reduce their speed more than cars on sharp curves marked with warning signs to reduce the risk of losing control or flipping over.
-Exit and entrance ramps are meant for reduced speeds. Twenty to thirty percent of large-truck crashes occur on or near a ramp.
-The heavier the load the more difficult to stop. Trucks that are fully loaded require 20 to 40 percent more braking distance than a car or smaller vehicle.
-Slow down and move over in work zones. In 2003, a truck driver was speeding at 60 mph in a 45mph work zone on Jane Addams Memorial Tollway when it rear-ended a 25-passenger bus. The truck driver received a 4-year sentence in prison for reckless homicide in the death of 8 women.
Motorists are always encouraged to allow plenty of driving space around large trucks in order to reduce the risk of an accident. If you are injured in an accident involving a large truck which was caused by negligent behavior, contact an injury lawyer immediately to discuss the liability of the truck driver or trucking company.