OOIDA Information Update - Oregon Members
June 24, 2005

Attention: Oregon truckers! An effort in the Oregon Senate could widen the speed gap for cars and trucks on rural interstate highways.

The House-approved bill, HB3252, would allow for truck speed limits to increase from 55 mph to 65 mph while increasing car speeds from 65 mph to 70 mph on certain sections of highways.

However, it leaves the door open for car speeds to increase while truck speeds stay the same.

The latest version of the speed limit bill differs from an earlier one in that a rate lower than 65 mph could be posted for tractor-trailers and other large vehicles if the Oregon Transportation Commission determines safety conditions warrant a slower speed.

As a result, the commission would have the option of setting a 65, 60 or 55 mph limit for trucks. They did not have this flexibility in the first bill.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed that measure into law in 2003. However, a study conducted by the commission later advised against boosting the current speed limit for cars and trucks on rural interstates.

The study said that while it was reasonable to raise car limits to 70 mph, "the engineering analysis supports a speed limit of 60 mph for trucks and not a higher limit."

Because the two speeds were linked in the new law, the commission decided not to bump the limits.

However, the study's recommendation doesn't hold water.

The rationale used by the Oregon Transportation Department in determining trucks shouldn't have a uniform limit with cars was based on their interpretation of 85^th percentile speeds.

While 85^th percentile speeds are the correct way to set speed limits they also have to reflect reality of compliance with existing speed limits. Basically, what their study showed is that many truckers in Oregon do comply with the lower speed limit even though it isn't the safest speed limit.

The study DOT used was itself flawed in that there is a split speed limit in the state.

Their study measured compliance with existing speed limits more so than it did an 85^th percentile of a reasonable speed policy.

Had there been a uniform speed limit when they did the study or had there been no speed limit at all, what they would have found would have shown very little difference between truck speeds and car speeds based on 85^th percentile. That would have been a legitimate way to set speed policy.

HB3252 is in the Senate Rules Committee. With the session likely to wrap up some time in the next few weeks, it is important you contact the committee members as soon as possible. If approved by the panel, the bill would move to the full Senate for final approval before heading to Gov. Ted Kulongoski for his signature.

Lawmakers, by and large, base their decisions on information presented to them. That is why it is important to contact legislators about this speed limit effort. It is vital the flaw in ODOT's study be pointed out to them.

If lawmakers insist on a differential speed limit, the differential should be no more than 5 mph.

Rules Committee members and their contact information are listed below.

Kate Brown, Chair
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1700
Fax: (503) 986-1080
E-mail:sen.katebrown@state.or.us

Ted Ferrioli, Vice-Chair
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1950
E-mail: sen.tedferrioli@state.or.us

Jason Atkinson
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1702
E-mail: sen.jasonatkinson@state.or.us

Charlie Ringo
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1717
E-mail: sen.charlieringo@state.or.us

Frank Shields
Capitol Phone: (503) 986-1724
E-mail: sen.frankshields@state.or.us