An effort to reduce the speed gap between cars and trucks is one step closer to becoming a reality in Michigan.

Backed by advocates who say it will make roads safer by improving traffic flow and more closely resembling “85th percentile” speeds, House lawmakers voted 94-12 Nov. 9 to advance the bill.

Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Caswell, R-Hillsdale, the bill would increase the 55 mph speed limit for vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or more to travel at 60 mph on freeways in the state. It also would apply to all passenger vehicles and pickup trucks that pull trailers.

Other motorists would continue to drive at the current 70 mph limit.

In testimony on the bill this fall, James C. Walker, an automotive consultant, spoke of the importance of setting speed limits based on the 85th percentile rule – the speed at or below which 85 percent of drivers operate their vehicles.

“Recent (Michigan) State Police data shows the 85th percentile speed for heavy trucks is 64 mph. A higher limit will merely be closer to reality,” Walker said.

Walker also told lawmakers the closer that speed limits are to 85th percentile speeds, the smoother and safer the traffic flow tends to be.

“Reducing differential speeds is one key to this smoother and safer traffic flow,” Walker added. “No safety benefit accrues to setting posted speed limits below the 85th percentile … and no safety benefit accrues from differential speed limits for trucks versus cars.”

State Police experts agree the wide speed disparity creates more hazards for all drivers than if the speeds were uniform.

“It’s not speed, but conflicts in speed that cause accidents,” State Police Lt. Thad Peterson, head of the traffic services section, told the Detroit Free Press. “When you have people driving different speeds you have more lane changes, they speed up and slow down. A lot of decision-making occurs there.

“At similar speeds, it’s more possible to maintain a proper following distance between the car or truck in front of you. You make fewer lane changes.”

Michigan is one of 11 states that post different speed limits for cars and trucks on rural interstates.

For the sake of safety, Caswell agreed it’s imperative the existing speed gap between cars and trucks be minimized.

“What we’re seeing is that’s too large of a gap on divided highways. It’s creating some very unsafe situations,” Caswell told Land Line.

“When trucks pull out to pass other trucks and can only go 55 we are seeing a huge backup in traffic. We’re seeing a lot of problems in that regard so what we are trying to do is narrow the top end and the bottom end. Get them closer together so traffic is moving more smoothly with a more uniform speed down the highway. It’s safer for everybody.”

Todd Spencer, executive vice president for OOIDA, said he is encouraged to see legislation to address safety problems resulting from a large speed gap move forward.

“While we think a uniform speed limit clearly makes the most safety sense for speed limits, the measure now being considered moves us a little closer to that,” Spencer said.

Walker said any concerns by lawmakers that higher speed limits for trucks would be more dangerous are not based on the scientific traffic safety engineering research from the past 60 years.

He asked lawmakers to keep in mind that the fatality rate on freeways is five times lower than on other roads.

In addition, Spencer said that it is imperative that Michigan truck drivers communicate to their elected officials the importance of minimizing the speed differential to road safety.

Caswell echoed Spencer’s call to truckers.

“Any help truckers could give would certainly be appreciated,” Caswell said.

HB5104 now heads to the state’s Senate for further consideration. If approved, it would move to Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who has yet to take a position on the bill.

– By Keith Goble, state legislative editor
keith_goble@landlinemag.com