Why Limiting Speed for Big Rigs Could Save Lives in South Carolina
When a fully loaded tractor-trailer barrels down I-20 or I-26 at high speeds, every driver around it is at greater risk. Large trucks already take much longer to stop than smaller vehicles. Add excessive speed, and the likelihood of a catastrophic crash rises sharply. That is why the National Safety Council (NSC) is pushing the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to reinstate a proposed federal rule requiring speed-limiting devices on heavy commercial vehicles.
The NSC’s appeal comes after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) withdrew a rule that would have required trucks, buses, and certain large passenger vehicles weighing over 26,000 pounds to have technology limiting their top speed. Safety advocates say the decision was a step backward in efforts to prevent deadly crashes.
For South Carolina drivers, who navigate busy freight corridors with constant truck traffic, this debate is not just about regulations. It is about preventing tragic trucking accidents on our roads and highways.
What the Speed Limiter Rule Would Have Done
The withdrawn proposal sought to reduce speed-related fatalities by requiring commercial vehicles over a certain weight to be equipped with devices that cap maximum speeds, potentially around 65 mph. These devices are not new technology; many fleets already use them to improve safety and fuel efficiency.
USDOT research found that speed limiters could save more than 200 lives and prevent nearly 5,000 injuries each year if set at 65 miles per hour. That is because high speeds increase both the likelihood of a crash and the severity of injuries when one occurs. For large trucks, the difference between 65 mph and 75 mph can be the difference between stopping in time or plowing into stopped traffic.
Why Safety Experts Say Speed Limiters Are Necessary
In 2023, speeding was a factor in 29 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities, killing 11,775 people nationwide. When a heavy truck is involved, the consequences are often even more severe. That same year, 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes — a 43 percent increase compared to a decade earlier.
According to a 2012 study by the FMCSA, trucks equipped with speed limiters had a significantly lower crash rate compared to those without. Slower speeds give truck drivers more time to react, reduce stopping distances, and lessen the force of impact in a collision.
Here in South Carolina, where interstate speeds can be high and rural highways often have limited shoulders or lighting, speed control can be a critical factor in preventing deadly crashes.
The Impact of High-Speed Truck Crashes in South Carolina
When a tractor-trailer strikes a smaller passenger vehicle at highway speeds, the results are rarely minor. Survivors often face life-changing injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, crushed limbs, and internal organ damage. In many cases, these injuries require long-term medical care and rehabilitation, and the financial burden can be overwhelming.
South Carolina’s roadways carry a high volume of commercial traffic due to the state’s ports, manufacturing centers, and distribution hubs. Interstate 95, I-20, I-26, and I-77 all experience heavy truck traffic, making speed control a top priority for public safety. Without regulations in place, drivers may face greater risks from truckers traveling at speeds well above the safe limit for their load and road conditions.
Why the Rule Was Withdrawn and the Push to Bring It Back
The FMCSA’s withdrawal of the speed limiter proposal marked the end of more than two decades of federal work on the issue. Opponents of the rule argued that it could create dangerous speed differentials between large trucks and passenger cars, potentially increasing crash risks in some situations.
However, safety advocates like the NSC counter that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. They argue that setting safe maximum speeds for heavy trucks would protect drivers in all vehicles — not just the truckers themselves — and that proper implementation could address concerns about traffic flow.
The NSC has called on USDOT to reconsider, citing both the human cost of high-speed crashes and the proven safety benefits shown in fleet studies.
What This Means for South Carolina
Whether or not the speed limiter rule returns, one fact remains: truck accidents caused by excessive speed can lead to devastating injuries and wrongful deaths. Victims and their families often face an uphill battle to get full and fair compensation.
Truck accident cases are more complex than typical car crash claims. They often involve multiple defendants, including the truck driver, the trucking company, and potentially the manufacturer of the truck or its components. These cases also require a thorough understanding of federal trucking regulations and access to evidence like electronic logging device (ELD) data, maintenance records, and black box speed data.
Without an experienced truck accident lawyer, critical evidence could be lost, and victims may find themselves at a disadvantage when facing trucking company insurers.
How Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law Can Help
If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash involving a speeding truck in Lexington, Columbia, or anywhere in South Carolina, our team can help you take the necessary steps to seek justice. We understand how trucking companies and their insurers operate because we have seen it from both sides, and we know how to fight back.
Our attorneys can:
- Investigate the crash and secure vital evidence before it disappears
- Work with accident reconstruction experts to prove the role of speed in the crash
- Hold all responsible parties accountable under state and federal law
- Demand full compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages
We are committed to making sure our clients are treated with dignity, respect, and the determination their case deserves.
Standing Up for Safer Roads
The debate over speed limiters is far from over. While federal regulations may shift, the responsibility to drive safely remains constant for every truck driver on South Carolina roads. Limiting speed for heavy trucks is not just about compliance. It's about saving lives.
If you were injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, you do not have to face the legal system alone. Get serious. Get Johnson + Johnson for justice. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and find out how we can help you hold negligent trucking companies accountable.
"Highly recommend Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law. Steven and Kevin really make you feel like family. They are detail-oriented, hardworking, and go out of their way to make sure that all your concerns are being met. You couldn’t ask for a better pair of attorneys to represent you." — Paul H., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
