OOIDA Call to Action – Illinois members
May 13, 2009

Attention: Illinois truckers. THIS COULD BE IT. The effort to bring uniform speed limits to rural interstates in Illinois is scheduled for a final vote on the Senate floor Thursday, May 14. If approved there, it would move to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk.

We are close to the FINISH LINE in the pursuit to eliminate split speeds. But we cannot ease up. So, pick up your cell phones. It’s imperative to take time NOW to contact your state senator and get this bill to the governor.

The Senate will vote on HB3956, which would allow all vehicles to travel 65 mph on rural interstates outside Chicago. The five surrounding “collar” counties would be exempted from the rule change.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is encouraging truckers to contact their lawmakers and Gov. Quinn to communicate the importance of eliminating speed differentials. Illinois lawmakers and the governor need only look at Ohio where a similar rule change has been approved and is scheduled to take effect in July.

Illinois lawmakers and Gov. Quinn need to know that by having vehicles travel at or near the same speed, the need for passing, lane changes, tailgating, and other maneuvers that create opportunities for drivers to make mistakes is minimized. This isn’t physics or rocket science. It’s simple common sense that highway engineers have known and followed for decades.

Contact info for Senate members is available here.

You are also encouraged to contact Gov. Pat Quinn and ask for his support of uniform speed limit legislation. To reach the governor’s Springfield office, dial 217-782-0244. To reach the governor’s Chicago office, dial 312-814-2121. To send e-mail, click here.