New Jersey transportation officials are considering lowering speed limits for trucks following a recent spate of fatal accidents involving trucks on state highways.
If approved, New Jersey would join 10 other states that restrict trucks to speeds lower than cars.
"We're looking at the effects of speed on accidents, not only with trucks, but all accidents in general. We're not leaving anything off the table," Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere told the Courier News of Bridgewater.
A public advocacy group called the Tri-State Transportation Campaign called on the department last month to consider reducing trucks' legal speed limit to 55 mph in areas marked 65 mph for cars.
Lettiere said the department expects to issue a comprehensive highway safety initiative next month.
While speed restrictions have long been discussed, trucking industry officials believe it is not the right approach.
"It would be a disaster to have two different speeds," said Gail Toth, director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Assn. "It would create chaos, particularly on overcrowded highways."
Lettiere told the Associated Press that a previous plan -- put together in the wake of three late November accidents -- was not good enough.
"We put together our original plan, we looked at it, and thought it was a little weak," he said.
The three accidents in one day in late November on Routes 78, 287 and 80, killed three people, injured four and stranded thousands of commuters. A blown tire, a mechanical breakdown and a truck driver's failure to negotiate a turn purportedly caused the accidents.
If approved, New Jersey would join 10 other states that restrict trucks to speeds lower than cars.
"We're looking at the effects of speed on accidents, not only with trucks, but all accidents in general. We're not leaving anything off the table," Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere told the Courier News of Bridgewater.
A public advocacy group called the Tri-State Transportation Campaign called on the department last month to consider reducing trucks' legal speed limit to 55 mph in areas marked 65 mph for cars.
Lettiere said the department expects to issue a comprehensive highway safety initiative next month.
While speed restrictions have long been discussed, trucking industry officials believe it is not the right approach.
"It would be a disaster to have two different speeds," said Gail Toth, director of the New Jersey Motor Truck Assn. "It would create chaos, particularly on overcrowded highways."
Lettiere told the Associated Press that a previous plan -- put together in the wake of three late November accidents -- was not good enough.
"We put together our original plan, we looked at it, and thought it was a little weak," he said.
The three accidents in one day in late November on Routes 78, 287 and 80, killed three people, injured four and stranded thousands of commuters. A blown tire, a mechanical breakdown and a truck driver's failure to negotiate a turn purportedly caused the accidents.
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