Strickland OKs 65 mph for big rigs; Higher limit on interstates takes effect 90 days after signing
Byline: JIM PROVANCE, BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - Heavy trucks will soon be able to match the 65-mph speed limit of smaller vehicles on limited-access interstates after Gov. Ted Strickland last night signed a $9.2 billion, two-year transportation budget into law.
Supporters of the change argued it could reduce some accidents by having all vehicles traveling at uniform speeds, but the Ohio Highway Patrol cited the states only experience with 65-mph truck speeds on the Ohio Turnpike as proof that truck-related accidents are likely to increase.
The higher speed limit will take effect with most of the rest of the transportation budget 90 days after the signing. The budget also authorizes the state to pursue federal money for expansion of passenger rail service, grants new authority for the state to impose tolls on new projects, and sets the stage for the state to spend billions in state and federal aid on road and bridge projects.
Gary Ellerbrock, 59, a commercial trucker from Findlay, isnt traveling in the same lane as many of his counterparts when it comes to raising the speed limit.
Most guys want it, he said. A lot of them are paid by the mile, but were going to see more deaths, more fatal accidents involving trucks. Id like to see 60 mph for both [trucks and passenger vehicles]. If the limit is 65, theyre going to go 70.
Ohio has been one of just 11 states with lower speeds for trucks than smaller passenger vehicles and pickup trucks on free highways. Just six states have truck speed limits lower than 65 mph - Michigan, Illinois, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
The only stretch of road in Ohio where trucks now can legally travel at 65 mph is the turnpike, where limits were increased and tolls decreased in 2004 in hopes of diverting large commercial trucks off parallel, more heavily traveled roads like State Rt. 2 and U.S. 20.
I think its more dangerous for vehicles to travel at two different speeds with cars feeling the need to weave in and out, Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Sylvania) said. Cars come up on a truck, slam on the brakes, and then try to get into the other lane to go around it.
But Ms. Sears voted against the bill, citing the increased fees as one reason. The bill passed the House 70-29 and the Senate 31-2.
The higher speed limit was added in the Senate after the transportation budget passed the House. The final version signed by Mr. Strickland last night will allow trucks now limited to 55 mph, those weighing 8,000 pounds or more when empty, to travel 65 mph on limited-access interstates.
We do continue to have concerns because of a comprehensive study that was conducted on the Ohio Turnpike when speeds were increased, Lt. Tony Bradshaw of the Ohio Highway Patrol said. The study showed that trucks involved in crashes increased.
Larry Davis, executive director of the Ohio Trucking Association, said more attention should be placed on the actual number of accidents rather than the percentages, which are statistically much smaller on the free parallel routes because of higher traffic volume.
When people are moving at the same speed, theyre not normally plowing into each other, he said. The problem is when they travel at different speeds and someone pulls out to go around someone. I cant sit here and say there will be [fewer] injuries, that accidents wont be as serious, or there will be less damage, but if there are [fewer] crashes in the long run, its got to be better for everyone.
The higher speed limit was some compensation for truckers who face fee increases for vehicle titles and tags under the bill.
The effort was made to work with the trucking industry to balance off the states needs with the industrys needs, said Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D., Toledo), the sponsor of the bill. There was the issue of the damage that trucks do and the fact that the economic impact of transportation in Ohio is very critical. This was an appropriate set of compromises.
Byline: JIM PROVANCE, BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - Heavy trucks will soon be able to match the 65-mph speed limit of smaller vehicles on limited-access interstates after Gov. Ted Strickland last night signed a $9.2 billion, two-year transportation budget into law.
Supporters of the change argued it could reduce some accidents by having all vehicles traveling at uniform speeds, but the Ohio Highway Patrol cited the states only experience with 65-mph truck speeds on the Ohio Turnpike as proof that truck-related accidents are likely to increase.
The higher speed limit will take effect with most of the rest of the transportation budget 90 days after the signing. The budget also authorizes the state to pursue federal money for expansion of passenger rail service, grants new authority for the state to impose tolls on new projects, and sets the stage for the state to spend billions in state and federal aid on road and bridge projects.
Gary Ellerbrock, 59, a commercial trucker from Findlay, isnt traveling in the same lane as many of his counterparts when it comes to raising the speed limit.
Most guys want it, he said. A lot of them are paid by the mile, but were going to see more deaths, more fatal accidents involving trucks. Id like to see 60 mph for both [trucks and passenger vehicles]. If the limit is 65, theyre going to go 70.
Ohio has been one of just 11 states with lower speeds for trucks than smaller passenger vehicles and pickup trucks on free highways. Just six states have truck speed limits lower than 65 mph - Michigan, Illinois, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
The only stretch of road in Ohio where trucks now can legally travel at 65 mph is the turnpike, where limits were increased and tolls decreased in 2004 in hopes of diverting large commercial trucks off parallel, more heavily traveled roads like State Rt. 2 and U.S. 20.
I think its more dangerous for vehicles to travel at two different speeds with cars feeling the need to weave in and out, Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Sylvania) said. Cars come up on a truck, slam on the brakes, and then try to get into the other lane to go around it.
But Ms. Sears voted against the bill, citing the increased fees as one reason. The bill passed the House 70-29 and the Senate 31-2.
The higher speed limit was added in the Senate after the transportation budget passed the House. The final version signed by Mr. Strickland last night will allow trucks now limited to 55 mph, those weighing 8,000 pounds or more when empty, to travel 65 mph on limited-access interstates.
We do continue to have concerns because of a comprehensive study that was conducted on the Ohio Turnpike when speeds were increased, Lt. Tony Bradshaw of the Ohio Highway Patrol said. The study showed that trucks involved in crashes increased.
Larry Davis, executive director of the Ohio Trucking Association, said more attention should be placed on the actual number of accidents rather than the percentages, which are statistically much smaller on the free parallel routes because of higher traffic volume.
When people are moving at the same speed, theyre not normally plowing into each other, he said. The problem is when they travel at different speeds and someone pulls out to go around someone. I cant sit here and say there will be [fewer] injuries, that accidents wont be as serious, or there will be less damage, but if there are [fewer] crashes in the long run, its got to be better for everyone.
The higher speed limit was some compensation for truckers who face fee increases for vehicle titles and tags under the bill.
The effort was made to work with the trucking industry to balance off the states needs with the industrys needs, said Rep. Peter Ujvagi (D., Toledo), the sponsor of the bill. There was the issue of the damage that trucks do and the fact that the economic impact of transportation in Ohio is very critical. This was an appropriate set of compromises.