Highway Safety Chief Seeks to Cap Big Rig Speeds

The nation’s highway safety chief says his agency will seek quick action on a regulation requiring electronic speed limiters on big rigs. It may also contact states about speed limits that are higher than commercial truck tires are designed to handle. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration head Mark Rosekind spoke with reporters Thursday in New York. He responded to questions about an Associated Press investigation that found most heavy truck tires aren’t designed to travel more than 75 mph. Yet 14 states have truck speed limits of 75, 80, and in part of Texas, even 85 mph. Some raised their limits without consulting the tire industry.