OOIDA Call to Action - Michigan Members
September 14, 2005

Attention: Michigan truckers! A bill before the Michigan House Committee on Transportation needs your attention.

HB5104 would reduce the speed gap between cars and large trucks traveling highways in the state to 10 mph. The difference is now 15 mph.

Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, has offered a bill that would allow vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more to travel up to 60 mph - up from 55 mph. Other motorists would continue to drive at the current 70 mph limit.

Todd Spencer, executive vice president for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said while the legislation attempts to address safety problems resulting from a large speed gap, lawmakers are missing a greater opportunity to do away with split speeds.

"One of the main reasons highway safety has improved even as states nationwide increase speed limits is because higher speed limits tend to eliminate or minimize speed variances that are often key contributors to accidents," Spencer said. "It makes sense now for lawmakers to use this legislation as an opportunity to once and for all establish uniform speed limits."

Spencer says it is important that Michigan truckers contact members of the House Committee on Transportation and let them know the importance of uniform speeds to road safety.

For contact information, visit http://house.michigan.gov/committeeinfo.asp?lstcommittees=transportation&submit=Go. You can also call OOIDA's Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they'll look up the contact information for you.