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* The setup…

The fight to raise the interstate speed limit for semitrailer trucks to 65 mph has raged in Springfield for several years without success.

This year, a roadblock to the plan — former Gov. Rod Blagojevich — has been removed. But whether big rigs will be allowed to drive faster on interstates is still yet to be seen.

Three times, lawmakers have approved raising the interstate speed limit for semis from 55 mph to 65 mph, the limit for smaller vehicles. Three times, Blagojevich vetoed it.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s office said Tuesday the governor hasn’t taken a position on the idea.

* The Question: Should the speed limit be increased to 65 mph for semitrailer trucks? Explain your answer, please. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:29 am

Comments

If semis drove 65 it would be a DECREASE for most of them! No change, it’s bad enough already. The wash of water covers your windshield and it is dangerous when these huge trucks roar down the road.

Comment by Obamalac Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:32 am
As an owner of a CDL… I would have to say that the testimony given at the hearing yesterday is true and accurate. Statistics show that if there is one uniform speed limit, vehicular accidents go down. Though this is just a correlation, it is STILL a correlation. The result from a Semi-car collision will be the same whether hitting a vehicle at 55 or 65.

Additionally, this law has many provisions in it to where it only applies to rural interstates and completely exempts Cook and the Collar counties. I believe it should pass, and I believe it will.

Comment by TT Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:38 am
I believe that Illinois is one of the few states that does not require trucks to cover their load, which in turn leads to debris flying out and hitting windshields, etc. Obviously this is not a problem with semis per se, but if the trucking lobby would agree to cover their cargo, I’d support a 65 mph for semis.

As for Obamalac’s recognition that most semis already exceed the speed limit, the obvious answer is to enforce the laws on the books.

Comment by Cynic Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:39 am
Sure, where passenger cars are allowed the same speed. The current limit is functionally ignored anyway…ever notice how the tour buses drive at exactly 70mph and never get pulled over? The last time I saw a semi driving less than 65 was during a snow. Let’s take the guesswork out of driving and enforce speeding laws in construction areas and urban areas, where most accidents occur.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:41 am
I get as much spray trying to pass trucks going 55 as I do in the one’s passing me. It would be nice to be able to drive 65 without having keep passing trucks.

The fact the speed limit is not enforced now says more about the lack of resources provided to ISP than setting the speed limits.

Comment by the Patriot Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:48 am
I have found driving the interstates in Iowa and Indiana more than a little frightening with trucks traveling the same rate as smaller vehicles. When a semi pulls out to pass another semi the traffic flow is blocked. And then everything slows down when the grade goes uphill and the semis cannot maintain their passing speed.

I have been literally run off the road by semis in both Iowa and Indiana as they try to pull out or back into a lane. No thanks! Leave the speed in Illinois where it is.

Comment by Captain Flume Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:54 am
Do states with higher speed limits have more vehicle mishaps? Fatalities?

If there’s no difference in safety raise the speed limit.

If there is a difference in safety, can Illinois sell licenses to drive at the higher speeds? If a truck driver wants to drive at 65 in Illinois he has to purchase and display a special decal. The decal would be revoke if the driver has safety issues or gets moving violations.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:55 am
Sure. 65 is a safe speed on interstates, and I thinks it’s safer for everyone to operate at a uniform speed.

Time is money for truckers.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:57 am
Yes, the trucks should be allowed to drive 65. Also, the state needs to establish an automated system for ticketing speeders throughout the state. This will help raise revenue and make the highways safer. Unlike red light cameras which are intended solely for revenue generation and often cause accidents, speeding kills.

Raise the limits but enforce them.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:59 am
Segregation of speeds is something that works, when the speed laws are actually enforced.

It would be great to have the semis drive at less than 60 mph. In addition to shorter stopping distances and lower speeds when they careen into something or someone they would save a ton of fuel.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 9:59 am
First we need to get these trucks to slow down to 65 mph. Then we can start discussing making 65 mph the legal speed. Raising the speed limit to 65 mph today will only cause many of these drivers to go 80 mph.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:01 am
NO. Most big rigs drive in excess of 65MPH. That would just make them drive in excess of 75 MPH.

Comment by Middle of the road Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:02 am
This debate reminds me of a story from a friend.

He had just arrived in Arizona to visit his retired Dad. As they drove from the aiport, his father set the cruise control at 55. Naturally, cars and trucks were whizzing past.

My friend said, “Dad, why don’t you speed up a little and keep up with traffic?” His Dad said, “No, it’s safer at a slower speed.”

My friend responded, “Well, if we are going to follow that logic, then why don’t we pull over to the side of the road and stop. That’s the safest speed of all!”

65 - 55 - 0. It’s all a matter of degrees.

Comment by Downstater Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:03 am
65 on the rural highways is fine. Besides, I wouldn’t beat up the ISP too much here for enforcement. I think their enforcement levels are just fine as it is. It’s just that truckers tend to have a sixth sense (or is it CB radio?) that lets them know where the speed traps are and are not.

Comment by HoBoSkillet Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:04 am
Enforcement is no longer neccessary by State Police. Via technology, speeders can simply be mailed a ticket similiar to red light cameras.

Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:08 am
I think it should be raised. And that the same limit should be in place as for other traffic.

Comment by doc Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:11 am
Why don’t they make roads just for the big trucks and the motorcycles. Then all these people can get on their road and kill each other instead of the ones who drive right.

Comment by I know Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:12 am
Yes, if you put everyone at the same speed there’s less lane jockeying and passing necessary.

Comment by Scooby Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:14 am
Uniform speeds for vehicles, uniform enforcement among classes of vehicles. 65 is OK for rural areas. In other states I see signs saying “No Tolerance” or “55 means 55″. I agree that construction zones should receive additional enforcement attention, as they often do now.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:17 am
Just look at other states that have the same speed limit for semis and smaller vehicles. Do fatalities go up? Do they go down? I agree with TT, is there a big diffrence of getting hit by a semi at 55 and 65 mph? I would hold semis to a strict 65mph..no 5mph over buffer like smaller vehicles get. Overall, fewer fatalites the better. If that means raising the limit then do so, just go by the statistics.

Comment by Yadi Dog Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:21 am
No, and ditto what Obamalac and VanillaMan said. In my humble opinion a good share of the time, one would be hard pressed to find a semi going only 55mph now. I’ve been chased down the road and terrorized over the years of rural living by what I usually call ‘evil demons’ far too many times to support a higher legal speed limit for them. But then I get too emotional over this issue to be fair in it–my now deceased fatherinlaw who drove truck for over 30 years took out five lives in one shot in a snowstorm one bad winter and it haunted him til the day he died.

Comment by Princess Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:23 am
Sorry, I would prefer that it remain 55 and that it be enforced. Raise it to 65 and they will go 70-75. Semi’s have grown tremendously in size over the years including piggy backs. They are now larger and heavier and require more space to stop and maneuver.

There were studies that claimed that smoking caused no harm and was “safe” once upon a time. Anyone can come up with a study to support their position. But common sense should rule here.

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:38 am
My first reaction was that the truck speed limit should be raised and then strictly enforced, because it seemed to me that uniform speeds would be safer. After reading the comments, especially Plutocrat03’s observation about stopping distances, I’ve changed my mind. It seems that there are good safety reasons for lower truck speeds.

So, thank you commenters for a good discussion.

Of course we need better enforcement. Everyone seems to have anecdotes about scary experiences involving trucks. In addition to state law, however, I think it’s also important to look at federal ICC regulations. There’s a monetary incentive for trucks to speed, and we need to neutralize that incentive.

Comment by the Other Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:43 am
I can support the change so the speeds are more even. I do wish the car drivers who feel the need to weave in and out of traffic at 85 mph would be pulled over far more often.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:45 am
I drive with the flow of traffic. Having semi drivers doing the same likely makes the roads safer for all of us. I have no objective statistics to back my supposition–just a feeling I have.

Comment by Fan of the Game Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:52 am
Does gridlock really allow them to go 65 where it is heavily congested? Gridlock, gridlock! Make this law happen!

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:03 am
As it currently is in several of our surrounding states, raise the interstate speed limit for semis to 65 mph and passenger vehicles to 70 mph. An exception would be in the metropolitan areas.

Comment by Retired State Employee Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:13 am
The Over-the-Road truckers are safety minded and cautious, as are most in-state truckers. Granted, there are always a few bad apples but the vast majority are safe drivers. Trucks move this country and getting our speed laws on the Interstate Highways in line with other states will help improve delivery of goods. I travel a great deal and encounter many professional truckers daily who would applaud the 65mph as reasonable. Enforce the speed and keep it lower in collar counties and Interstates around cities.

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:14 am
They already go 65 or higher, raising the speed limit would give them the green light to go even faster

Comment by Captain Chaos Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:31 am
As noted above, and certainly pertains to Curry trucks around Springfield, a reduction to 65 would be a relief to most of us who quake at their approach…

Comment by You Go Boy Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:38 am
I agree that semis are currently driving faster 55. So, if they raise the limit will they really start to crack down on speeding trucks. I realize that CB radios give truckers an advantage but, isn’t there a way to block their frenquencies?

Comment by Hello Pot Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:41 am
A big percentage of the truckers on the road
don’t obey the speed limit now. If it’s raised
to 65, many of them will be running 75. As an
example, keep an eye on the next Curry truck
that you see on I-55.

Comment by Esteban Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:03 pm
>The Over-the-Road truckers are safety minded and cautious, as are most in-state truckers. Granted, there are always a few bad apples but the vast majority are safe drivers. Trucks move this country and getting our speed laws on the Interstate Highways in line with other states will help improve delivery of goods. I travel a great deal and encounter many professional truckers daily who would applaud the 65mph as reasonable. Enforce the speed and keep it lower in collar counties and Interstates around cities.

Truckers or trucking execs? I’m not trying to be too skeptical, and I’d guess there are mixed opinions among truckers, but the governor kept it low because he was a Teamsters guy, and the Teamsters want it low because if trucks could go 20% faster, they’d need 10% fewer drivers.

Comment by lincoln street Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:08 pm
Rat out the drivers who are exceeding the speed limit. Get the name and city of the trucking, and call to complain. I have done it many times. I give my name, location and time of the observed event. I have always had positive responses from the companies.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:14 pm
Every time I am on the interstate and see a truck I get behind it, it is good to have bigger faster bait for the State Troopers in front of you.
Most trucks are exceeding the speed limits, and they seem to have a good communication system with other trucker to know when to do the speed limit.
The only thing this will do is let truckers go faster when the State Troopers are around.
So why not, they speed anyhow?

Comment by Third Generation Chicago Native Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:18 pm
To Hello Pot: It’s called Citizens Band for a reason, those frequency bands are for use by the general public. First, it would be really bad public policy for state officials to jam a freely available band of frequencies for a speed trap. Second, there are 40 individual frequencies that would require jamming. And third, those frequencies operating at the maximum output power can travel over 15 miles. That’s a lot of jamming equipment for a speeding ticket.

Comment by ShyBoy Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:33 pm
Truckers and the rest of us need less restriction so we can make money to pay our bills. If a truck can go a little faster it is more profitable and will thus pay more in taxes…the driver wins and the Government wins. I do suggest 65 mph/ 55 in bad conditions like we see out west.

Comment by pro profit Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 12:54 pm
I’ll trade you 65mph for trucks in exchange for banning radar detectors.

Comment by lake county democrat Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 1:03 pm
Absolutely not. Try driving through Illinois and then through Wisconsin or Iowa. Although we’re terrible about obeying speed limits, you still end up for the most part with trucks running slightly slower than cars. And in Iowa and Wisconsin the trucks are often the fastest things on the road and it is dangerous and scary. It helps the road function as it should, keeping the fast lane moving a bit faster than the slow lane, and it means you’re spared of the terror of being passed by an overloaded semi at 80 mph. Try driving I-80 in Iowa by comparison and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 1:15 pm
I went on a long road trip last summer hauling my boat down to Florida and back. I experienced alot of different driving conditions, speed control regimes, construction zone safety efforts and the like. I came back with the impression that efforts to make the road safe by severely restricting speed limits actually seem to have the oposite effect. EG: road work zones in Illinois carry a 45 mpg speed limit, even if there is no active work being done and no workers present. I routinely saw people in cars and trucks ignoring these limits even in the presence of workers - with speeds easily exceeding the normal posted limits (non-construction). In other states I saw speed limits go from 70mpg to 60mph in work zones and saw much more compliance and extra caution around workers. This surprised me. I saw the same thing w/truckers. Where the speed limits were set at 70mph for all, the truckers were nearly always at that speed. It seems to me that the more authorities try to corral drivers into lower speed limits the faster they drive. I would be interested in knowing accident/fatality statistics to see if my anecdotal experiences have any validity.

Comment by dupage dan Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 1:40 pm
Is there a penalty of reduced Federal funding if the limit is raised? If so, there is your answer.

Comment by bockrand Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 2:26 pm
Why slower speeds in metropolitan areas on the interstate? I do not see the rationale. Now there are certain areas that need attention. Downtown where the Danny/Ken entrances had been in the high speed left hand lane and with a short merge absolutely needs a limit.

One of the problems continue to be manners. Canada’s Queen’s highway (Windsor to Toronto used to be double lanes each way. Up there everybody drove the right lane except to pass and then it was back into the right ;lane. Traffic moved at 65 for all comers. Triple lanes were the devil’s invention and discipline started to go, along with courtesy. Driving in CA, I found that four lanes was ideal, allowing the middle two for driving, the right for deceleration, exit, entrance, acceleration, plus the left for high speed passing and rush hour HOV. Interestingly, traffic speed was uniform with 70 posted, There was little racing and the CHPs were plentiful and did ticket if you were 10% over.

Do I misrecall that in the older days we were a “prima facie” state with no fixed max limit?

Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 2:50 pm
First of all, not all truck drivers are speed demons, driving like fools and causing accidents. Secondly, not all have CB radios. My husband is a semi truck driver and a trainer for his company. There is a control on all of the trucks at my husband’s company that PREVENT them from going faster than 55 MPH. If there wasn’t such a device, my husband does not want to get tickets on his CDL. He drives the limit. He doesn’t have a CB radio becuase of all the smack talk that goes on.

He has almost been killed by careless motorists in cars and vans who jump into the lane in front of him and slow or stop suddenly, and by other trucks who will not follow the limit.

I think 65 is acceptable for semi trucks. In the mean time, maybe we need to legislate trucking companies that push their employees to get there faster faster faster, and don’t regulate themselves. My husbands company does a fine job of policing their employees. They get paid a salary per day, not based on how many reckless drops they make in a day. Most truck drivers are worried about losing their job if they don’t outperform the other guys. They barely sleep, drive 14 hours and are pushed to the max. Thats the real problem with the trucks. No matter what the speed the drivers who can will still push the limit, just like most of us catch ourselves doing.

Comment by Say WHAT? Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 2:57 pm
If legislators are honest with us they know any number of studies have shown split speed limits are, in fact, more dangerous. 65 MPH is appropriate for trucks. (Look at the speeds the cars are running! They need to do 65 MPH just to get out of the way.)

Left lane restrictions for trucks is a far more effective way to reduce accidents. (Just like separating trucks at oasis, rest areas, etc.

Comment by Bawston Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 4:31 pm
I would be in favor of 65 mph for trucks if they were not allowed in the left-hand lane.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 6:57 pm
I would be in favor of 65 mph for trucks if they were not allowed in the left-hand lane.

Comment by Rod Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 6:57 pm
There is legislation for companies - it is called log books. And most of you are right, most trucks do run 65 and it has become “acceptable” throughout most of the state, but not because they are irresponsible or “speed demons” - it is safer for all on the road if everyone is traveling at the same speed. I dont’ have the exact numbers or statistics, but the last three times this has come through, it was stated that there are numerous other states out there that have uniform speed limits and the data to back it up that uniform speed limits are safer for everyone and accidents are down. Then there is the log book issue of not being able to log the difference in miles you can run from 55 to 65. If the speed limit is 65 than the trucks can log the additional miles. Fatigue is less because truckers are on the road for a lessor amount of time. I don’t really see the bad in this. Illinois does have a tarp law. If you see someone driving down the road losing stuff you need to report it. It is all in what is enforced regardless of who is doing it - cars or semis.

Comment by sb Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 8:12 pm
Why IS AAA opposed to a uniform speed limit in Illinois, but did not oppose it in Iowa? This is the same AAA that stood with Blagojevich on the south side of Chicago and said trucks kill? But they say this bill does not affect Chicago or the suburbs. Sounds like a big PR campaign against the trucking industry by AAA.

Comment by Joe Schmoe Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 10:36 pm
HoBoSkillet

You’re right. I’m a trooper and the only trucks I generally catch speeding are those where the driver shut off his C.B. radio in order to listen to music.

When driving in my personal vehicle, I notice the trucks are all doing about 65 mph. I drive to Arizona a few times a year. The speed limit in New Mexico and Arizona is 75 mph for ALL vehicles. These states have the highest mountains and you are above 4000 feet for several hundred miles. I actually slowed down below the speed limit a few times in these winding mountain passes while driving in a car.

Basically its all a matter of perspective I think. Here in the Peoples Republic of Illinois, everybody thinks the government needs to watch out over us. Out west, in the world of fly-over states, government plays a much smaller role in everybody’s lives. Notice when there is a recession which states have the biggest budget problems and which ones tighten their belts and get by. (AKA, 9 billion-with-a-b, budget gap we are now facing). God forbid Illinois would actually have to watch its spending. The pension funds are ridiculously under funded, most state vehicles, including state police vehicles are 100,000 miles past their design limit, what on earth do they do with the money we give them other than support Chicago?

Comment by RedNeck Wednesday, Mar 11, 09 @ 11:57 pm
Its funny that Illinois has a “Caution truckers, 55mph or pay $75 fine”, and now want to raise truck speed limits. I think its about time Illinois raised the truck speed limit. Seriously, other than a few metropolitan areas in Illionis, i can understand a slower speed limits. Illionis is just wide open space just like eastern California. And as a truck driver, driving 55mph in rural Illiois is tiresome, boring, and unsafe. Imagine cars running anywhere from 80mph to 95 mph and even instances of 100mph. I mean there have been times i m running 62mph and pass another truck when its noone around, and by the time I get back over after passing, there are 10 cars on my DOT bumper out of nowhere. I think Interstates 39,55,57,and 74 could use a uniform 70 mph speed limit.

Comment by bigkev1115 Tuesday, Mar 31, 09 @ 8:45 am