Government shelves proposal for mandating speed-limiting devices on large commercial vehicles
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has withdrawn a decades-old rulemaking that aimed to require speed limiters on heavy vehicles, ending 20 years of regulatory work. This decision has sparked concerns from safety advocates, particularly the National Safety Council (NSC), who argue that the withdrawal could lead to an increase in speed-related fatalities involving large commercial vehicles.
The National Safety Council (NSC), a 110-year-old nonprofit dedicated to eliminating preventable deaths and injuries, has criticized the move. The organization emphasizes that the science supporting speed limiters is clear, citing research showing that speed-limiting devices save lives and reduce speed-related crashes involving large commercial vehicles.
In 2023, speeding was a factor in 29% of all traffic deaths, claiming the lives of 11,775 people, or an average of 32 fatalities every day. Large trucks, when traveling at high speeds, contribute disproportionately to fatal crashes due to their mass and force. Federal estimates suggest that capping truck speeds at 65 mph could save over 200 lives and prevent nearly 5,000 injuries annually.
The NSC argues that the technology to implement speed limiters is already available. A 2012 study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that trucks equipped with speed limiters had significantly lower crash rates. The NSC warns that without the mandate, there may be an increase in speed-related fatalities involving heavy vehicles.
Critics argue that the withdrawal of the rulemaking could pose a risk to highway users who share the road with heavy trucks. The decision is seen as a step backward in efforts to protect families and professional drivers alike. Lorraine Martin, president and CEO of the NSC, has expressed disappointment with the decision, urging USDOT to reconsider. Martin states that the decision could have deadly consequences in the years to come.
The USDOT officially withdrew the mandate in mid-2025, citing significant data gaps and unclear safety benefits, alongside considerations of economic impact and states' differing speed limits. The agencies pointed to advances in other safety technologies like automatic emergency braking as potential alternatives to speed limiters and questioned whether a one-size-fits-all federal speed cap would be appropriate given varying state speed limits.
Industry groups and many truckers opposed the speed limiter mandate, asserting that limiting trucks below prevailing traffic speeds can increase crash risk by causing speed differentials that lead to more interactions. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association welcomed the withdrawal as supporting driver professionalism and safety through voluntary rather than mandated measures.
In summary:
| Aspect | Details | |-------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | USDOT action | Officially withdrew speed limiter mandate in 2025 due to data gaps and federalism concerns | | NSC position | Warns withdrawal will increase fatalities; encourages reinstatement of mandate | | Safety data cited by NSC | Speeding causes ~29% of fatalities; speed limiters could prevent 200+ deaths/year | | Industry stance | Opposes mandate; claims speed limiters cause unsafe speed differentials | | USDOT rationale | Uncertain safety benefits, costs, and state speed limits, plus new technologies like AEB |
While no direct post-withdrawal fatality data from 2023 onward is yet conclusive in the sources, the NSC has strongly linked the withdrawal of the federal speed limiter proposal to an increased risk of fatalities on U.S. roads based on past research and fatality statistics. The USDOT, however, maintains the rule lacked sufficient justification to proceed.
Finance analysts predict potential financial implications if speed-related fatalities increase as a result of the USDOT's decision to withdraw the speed limiter mandate. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that reduced safety could cost hundreds of lives and billions of dollars in medical expenses, lost productivity, and other related costs annually.
The media coverage surrounding this topic has been extensive, with general news outlets questioning whether the withdrawal of the rule will dangerously impact transportation safety while education-and-self-development platforms discuss the significance of road safety education and the importance of adhering to speed limits in preventing accidents.
