Attention: Illinois truckers! Gov. Rod Blagojevich has vetoed a bill – SB2374 – to eliminate the state’s split speed limit on rural interstates. You need to contact your state legislators and urge them to bring SB2374 up for an override vote during their November veto session.

Blagojevich has said he fears that faster trucks would mean bloodier accidents.

OOIDA and other trucking industry officials have fought for the bill’s passage. They cite federal statistics showing that split speed limits lead to more accidents.

“It’s unfortunate and irresponsible for the governor to have taken this action,” Todd Spencer, executive vice president of OOIDA, said. “Obviously he’s getting bad information that will play itself out on Illinois’ highways in the lives and injuries to motorists. We certainly hope the Legislature moves swiftly to override his ill-advised veto.”

The measure to abolish the split speed limit passed the Senate by a vote of 37-15 and the House by a vote of 81-37. Both of those tallies included more than the three-fifths necessary to override a veto. However, despite similar majorities last year on a nearly identical bill many lawmakers changed their votes when asked to override the veto, and the bill died.

Spencer said it is vital all Illinois residents contact their state representative and senator and let him/her know the importance of uniform speeds to road safety. “We need to be pulling out all the stops to make certain lawmakers override the governor’s veto,” Spencer said.

For Senate and House members contact information, visit www.ilga.gov. You can also call OOIDA’s Membership department at 1-800-444-5791 and they’ll look it up.