Bill Targets Truck Drivers in Georgia's Super Speeder Law
by Jana Ritter - Published: 2/19/2016On Thursday the trucking industry had the opportunity to voice its opposition to tougher speed limits for truck drivers on Georgia highways. Rep. Ron Stephens had introduced a bill proposing tougher restrictions in response to last year’s crash that killed five nursing students. The semi-truck driver had failed to slow down as he approached a stretch of backed up traffic and smashed into two vehicles carrying the nursing students to a training session in Savannah.
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“This is a very small opportunity for us to take out the very heavy trucks. Typically when they’re involved in an accident, they have a tendency to squash you like a bug. It’s different from a two-car accident,” said Stephens during a hearing before the House Motor Vehicle Committee. His proposal is to make truck drivers in 100,000-pound, commercial vehicles subject to an additional $200 “Super Speeder” penalties on top of regular fines when they are caught going 10 mph over the speed limit on Interstate highways. The current law sets the trigger at 20 mph and Stephens says it would remain the same for cars, non-commercial buses, vans and smaller trucks.
Jay Morgan spoke on behalf of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association and argued against the bill. “You are preparing to create adichotomous system if a trained, professional driver is a super speeder at 10 miles over the speed limit — which is very often the normal flow of traffic on Georgia’s interstates. But an untrained, amateur driver, no matter what they’re driving — even an 80,000-pound vehicle — is not a super speeder until 15 mph or more,” Morgan said. He followed by citing statistics indicating that 7 out of 10 truck/car crashes are caused by the drivers of cars. Morgan also pointed to studies showing that the safest driving conditions are when traffic flows at about the same speed.
Veteran truck driver Dan Matthews also took the floor and spoke from his first hand job experience driving commercial trucks since the 1970s and as a safety trainer for YRC Freight. He explained to the committee that many commercial trucks have governors on the engines preventing them from accelerating above 65 mph. He also pointed out that classifying a truck driver as a “super speeder” would make it difficult to get a job with a reputable company and this would be a major setback when the country is already dealing with a shortage of 40,000 drivers. “The last thing we should do is take away the livelihood of the people willing to do it,” he said.
The committee took no action on the bill during Thursday’s hearing. It requires them to approve it before it can be passed on for the full House to vote.
I'm glad I don't drive in Georgia.
Yeah
They should target all vehicles. And drivers stop this childish behavior of saying four-wheelers do it to, sounds like a five-year old. The hazard is not slow trucks but dumbass drivers that tailgate or fail to pay attention. Send the pansy ass drivers home that are unable to go 5 minutes without calling mommy or their dispatchers.
We are bigger money makers then a four wheeler that's all this is there is no even laws between four wheeler and trucks and truck driver is the one screwed then look at Rhode Island truck only tolls they just passed that law up there then they wonder why we got a truck driver shortage !!
Once again in experience drivers are what is bring down this industry. Semi's are already dangerous goin slower than 4 wheelers, but the real danger is there is no consequences for a 4 wheeler than cuts off a semi tryin to get to an exit. Tom fix this problem need to address the actual issue.
Dash cam can save you butt. There is a lady who I hope thanks God every night. Lucky she is alive. One of our drivers rear ended a 4 wheeler a couple of weeks ago. Lady was in far right lane our truck has just gone in far left to pass a slow car in middle lane. 4 wheeler cuts over 3 lanes hits her brakes in front of the truck trying to do a I turn thru median. Truck slowed as much as she could. Dash cam showed whole thing. Not trucks fault
Looks like the law breaking, no professionalism, flip flop wearing, knee on the dash, no taking shower, stinky punk drivers got another wish come true. Congratulations to you, the trashy truck driver !!
Thank you Bill lol
What they need to have is 2 lanes for " TRUCKS ONLY" & if a 4 wheeler is caught in one of those two lanes big ass fine...
Your exactly right. I've always said keep the car's away from us.
If u actually go bk interstate were made for military n commercial vehicles only.read on it. It wasn't made for cars.
OK ,but I said that because I'm sure the number of wrecks would go down
If you drive 10 over in a commercial vehicle you should pay double no reason for it..30 yr veteran of truckin here
30year my ass more like 5year and the speed set at 62 for u dumb asses
James, get your assuming stupid ass home before you get your good buddy ass whipped.
If the speed limits were half way enforced, there would be alot less issues. No need to run 80+mph with that much traffic. 4 wheelers are the ones that should be targeted. But we all know that that isn't going to happen
The truck driver involved in that accedent was texting and driving.
We should make that illegal, so folks stop doing it
It already is but people still do it.
Been illegal for years with steep fines and more. Not just for him but his company as well. Bluetooths are mandatory by law for commercial drivers.
If we as truck drivers are pulled over for talking on phone with out a "Hands Free" device we can get up to a $1500 fine,but a 4 wheeler the fine is up to $1000. It should be a set amount weather you're a truck driver or a 4 wheeler driver....
I see what you did there James ! Lol
Trucker Steven Stroup Jason Stearns...i was being sarcastic....
Lmao Victor Weaver
totally correct :D
With this comment thread I see drivers disparaging other drivers. Personal weight, clothing choices and shower habits, etc. Etc. Each one of us has their own driving style and reasons. I cannot see us pulling together for any causes. The driver who killed these nursing students wasn't paying attention. Point blank and simple. Punish him accordingly.
Maybe they should blame the state no more traffic jams fix your roads so back up don't happen they are quick to blame us for everything just build are own lanes for just truckers and we will be good
Your whats wrong with this bussiness . Uneducated take no fucking blame every major wreck this year was a truck started wreck the wreck on 78 in pa 70 cars and trucks. Indiana michigan .. slow the fuck down stop hauling cheap freight and get the fuck off peoples bumpers end story dumbass
When did I say I drive unsafe all I said is state should build there road so back up don't happen and I'm in un educated OK not say truck don't don't wreck because dumb fuck but sometime you need to look at a bigger picture and see how to fix shit like that so thing like this don't happen I drive tanker so safety is my number one priority
Ok Georgia make up your mind. You don't want people to take their time passing and want them to go faster so it doesn't cause road rage and now you want us to go slow. Make up your dam mind.
I think we should go back to 55 trucka and all people are wreckless especially truck drivers they tailgate excessive speed and still insist on talking on there phones . This so called new breed is the worlds worst south east fedex anyone of there and plenty more if the truck does 70 there doing it. AND BEFORE SOME DUMBASS SAYS TO ME ABOUT ME BASHING TRUCKS. I AM A TRUCK DRIVER..32 years I hold safe driving awards and dont see no need to have my foot on the floor all the timr. There in a hurry to get in a truck stop. And the way people drive cars is trully disgusting. I try to avoid Atlanta like the plague. Some of the most ignorant uneducated inconsiderate asshole drivers in the country.. change the speed limit and the ones that say they will quit the bussiness your fat asses arent going anywhere...
Let me give you a little advice from someone who deals with 55 and 57 mph trucks all the time. They are dangerous they create backups they slow traffic to a crawl and when you put one on the interstate while cars are running 20 to 30 faster boom right in the ass end. My grandad laid one over because of a 55mph truck running slow on 95 he was only doing the speed limit. Again a couple years before that he had to ditch one when he ran up on a woman doing 45 with a tag a long trailer loaded with chicken crates. It's dangerous and it always will be. Trucks aren't the problem if everyone pays attention I haul fuel and see wayyyyy too many idiots cutting me off or pulling out in front of 9000 gallons of gas.
If the speed limit cuts back to everyone doing 55 your dad wouldnt of run up on that driver so fast. Plus you only heard his side of the story. Every where I go i see theses relentless asshole truck drivers barreling down the highway to only see them a few miles down the road going in a truck stop. Biggest mistake they did raise the speed limits. People are selfish ignorant idiots.
Yea you try hauling livestock from Missoula MT to St Paul MN and try to tell me you're willing to make that trip day after day at fucking 55mph. I'd go to sleep driving that slow
You're an idiot in the highest degree
I was going to say something but your not worth the time or effort your probably the same clown that pulls up on the fuel island for a hour. Montana proved you were to stupid to raise the speed limit to drivers ability. Come out of Atlanta ga anytime of day and the wasy theses asshopes drive cars and trucks. The cars point the fingers at the trucks and the truck drivers of today are clueless how to really drive a truck. People no matter what they drive or pure assholes cars motorcyclea trucks. Mexicans russians rednecks hillbillies whites blacks..
Mark Mast stop hauling cheap stock and you would barrel down the road
Why don't they target the anal 4 wheeler drivers that act like asses and cause the wrecks !
Ive been driving a long time and Ive never had a problem settin the cruise control 6 to 7 mph over the limit. The bottom line is we have a responsibility to safety and the knowledge of knowing if we hit somebody regardless if its our fault the consequences are most likely deadly. There's no reason to be goin 10mph over the limit so if this slows the idiots down who think they're makin up time well then good job!!
Your running over the speed limit your increasing your chance at a wreck. And your reaction time is greatly less on cruise control. Talk and drive like you have common sense you were my driver you would be fired right now you proved your a accident risk
Im a million mile driver with no accidents and a clean mvr so your opinion means nothing to me. Fire me
Problem with this bill is that at 6-7 over as soon as you drop off a small hill the cops will be waiting there to get an extra $200
Speed wasn't a factor in this crash, hell the driver didn't stop because he was distracted coming up to a back up!!!!
Your absolutely right! Anyone who speeds shows they could care less, ticket them over and over again.
we could stop all crazy shit by a nation wide work stopage by all drivers for 30 days and shut the economy down ok
It's not always the big truck, but big trucks have the biggest insurance policy.
Meanwhile, back in the swamp, Kansas is trying to raise its speed limits on some roadways to 80 mph. I consider this ridiculous.
Why is it ridiculous? Texas already has 85 on some highways.
Texas is ridiculous, too. At 85 regaining control from a MINOR bobble is much harder. It's much more dangerous to be on the road at that speed. Yes, yes, yes, I know all about superior driving skills, blah, blah, blah. It's baloney, 80 is much too damn fast.
Maybe it is for you I'd suggest staying under 80 and in the right lane. I've driven 80plus several times issue. Besides these days it's a very small percentage of trucks even able to run over 65 how many more accidents do you think an extra 5mph are going to cause?
Once again - IMHO, 80 is too fast. Lots of people already drive 80, even in a 65 zone. Giving them permission to drive 80 only drives the speed higher. True before and true now, SPEED KILLS, whether it's meth or a highway.
I'm with you Dereck. They don't have to run the limit, but GTFO of the middle and left lanes. Stay right with your granny governed fucktard machines. Some of us do run the limit and are trusted with perfect long standing records to be able to safely run wide open trucks at those speeds for many yrs, and we shouldn't be held up cause someone's scared.
Drive yourselves to hell. Just make sure you don't take smarter people than you out at the same time.
I run 80 all the time
Professional drivers must obey laws or lose their careers
How about stupid 4 wheelers high rate speed tailgate cut in from semi n don't use Turn signal change lane.
And what about the assholes in the fourwheelers ?? The laws should apply to EVERYONE !!!!
Thanks<3
I drive Georgia n ain't worried n no I'm not in a governed truck
Did anyone catch this... Punctuation is key, lol
None of this matters! The law says trucks OVER 100,000 lbs! None of us ever get over 80k
You have to be a "door swinger" if you actually believe none of us ever get over 80,000# I have news for you......We run LEGAL permit weights of 86,000# on the trailer on a regular basis......Ohio gives is a GROSS WEIGHT of 117,000# on 5 axles. (17,000 on steer....50,000 on drives....50,000 on trailer axles) hauling steel. They also permit many other trucks....dumps, pneumatic tankers, liquid tanks.....even van trailers. You can buy a quarterly permit for under $100......yes AS MANY loads as you can haul in a 3 month period for only buying one permit. MOST STATES gladly permit over weight.
Well I am a real Driver, not s "door swinger" but if you are in fact running over 100k, then you in fact have NO BUSINESS running over the speed limit anyway! So again: none of this matters
Nevermind all the cars that kill because there doing everything but paying attention to there driving
*they're * their
OK if in Atlanta Georgia on the loop when can you go above 45 not in rush hour traffic witch is from 5 am till 10 am then you have the other shift and from 3pm to 10 pm
I Agree anyone else?
Weight limit is 80, 000. And 15 over limit is a felony. Do we need more?
Who said it was a felony?
Not a felony
So I guess every school bus driver on 285 will get one of the tickets within a few days.
Iv been at the wheel just a short time now (21 years) and man has trucking changed...
Kathy connett- am from Kansas no speed limits have been raised to80 miles an hour nowhere interstates are75 two lanes are 55 to 65 miles an hour
It is now under consideration to raise the limit. Read it in the KC Star earlier this week.
Bullshit...I'm a Texan and our speed limits are 55 and 65 in cities and 75/80 and 85 elsewhere.
Jason Stearns was talking about Texas read the article it said Kansas not Texas our speed limits are exactly as advertised
Guess I have to prove it to you? There is now a bill underconsideration in the Kansas legislature to raise the speed limit to 80 pmh. Here you go! http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article60714926.html
Argue with me if you want to, but I will bury you with facts.
Kathy connect wasn't arguing with you for Christ sake it might be but right now it is what it is period
Connett-
So now I can go from kc to Salina in hour and 45 minutes instead of 2 hours now I can log it better
No Derek brickles- you have two toll booths to deal with and pretty soon construction is starting on i-70 going westbound and eastbound too so don't plan on flying thru Topeka it's 60 miles an hour till first street from Adams and then 65 out to west of i-470 -70 split then 70 to west of eskridge- road then 75 to the Kansas Colorado line
Yup Indeed
Set the cruise at 75. Never had an issue.
Thank you. YrC
I'll stay in Ohio
Susan Clark Ward