OOIDA Call to Action - Michigan Members
November 2, 2005

Attention: Michigan truckers! We are running out of time and momentum to get a bill approved in the Michigan House that would reduce the speed gap between cars and large trucks traveling highways in the state.

Supporters of the effort in the Michigan House have told OOIDA that lawmakers aren't hearing from enough truckers on what they believe is an important issue. It is imperative that you, your family members, friends and colleagues contact your House representatives about the bill to decrease the speed differential from 15 mph to 10 mph.

Thanks in part to your earlier efforts, HB5104 passed out of the House Committee on Transportation in September by a 13-1 vote. However, it has since been awaiting further consideration before the full House. We must act nowto help push this bill through.

Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, the bill would allow vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more to travel up to 60 mph. They are now limited to 55 mph. Other vehicles could continue to drive at the current 70 mph limit.

Todd Spencer, executive vice president for OOIDA, said he is encouraged to see legislation to address safety problems resulting from a large speed gap move forward.

"While we think a uniform speed limit clearly makes the most safety sense for speed limits, the measure now being considered moves us a little closer to that," Spencer said.

Spencer reiterates that it is imperative that Michigan truckers contact their House lawmakers, and let them know the importance of minimizing the speed differential to road safety.

For House lawmakers' contact information, visit house.mi.gov/find_a_rep.asp and follow the prompts. You can also call OOIDA's Membership Department at 1-800-444-5791 and they'll look up the contact information for you.