Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2020, 7.3% of large truck driver fatalities had speed as a contributing factor. Several states have implemented truck differential speed limits (DSLs) with the objectiv...

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Main Authors: Gregory L. Brinster, Jairaj Desai, Rahul Suryakant Sakhare, Jijo K. Mathew, Darcy M. Bullock
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Safety
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/4/99
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author Gregory L. Brinster
Jairaj Desai
Rahul Suryakant Sakhare
Jijo K. Mathew
Darcy M. Bullock
author_facet Gregory L. Brinster
Jairaj Desai
Rahul Suryakant Sakhare
Jijo K. Mathew
Darcy M. Bullock
author_sort Gregory L. Brinster
collection DOAJ
description The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2020, 7.3% of large truck driver fatalities had speed as a contributing factor. Several states have implemented truck differential speed limits (DSLs) with the objective of improving safety. This study compares truck speeds in 16 states, 8 of which have implemented DSLs (Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) and 8 of which have not (Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). The DSLs ranged from 55 MPH in California (CA) to 70 MPH in Montana (MT). Over 240,000 speed samples from connected trucks were analyzed during a one-week period from 15–22 April 2024. The 50th percentile truck speeds ranged from 60 MPH in Oregon to 69 MPH in Wyoming. The 85th percentile truck speeds ranged from 65 MPH in Washington, Oregon, and California to 74 MPH in Wyoming. The 85th percentile speeds across all segments were greater than the posted truck speed limit in 90% of segments with DSLs, but only 12.5% of segments without DSLs. The average interquartile range (IQR) of truck speeds for the eight states with DSLs was 19% smaller than the average IQR of the eight states without DSLs. The methodologies and visuals presented by this study are easily scalable to any route and location provided the availability of a representative connected truck dataset.
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spelling doaj-art-a446c252f878464eb9cb3ad5f2aeb6932025-08-20T02:57:21ZengMDPI AGSafety2313-576X2024-11-011049910.3390/safety10040099Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed LimitsGregory L. Brinster0Jairaj Desai1Rahul Suryakant Sakhare2Jijo K. Mathew3Darcy M. Bullock4Joint Transportation Research Program, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAJoint Transportation Research Program, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAJoint Transportation Research Program, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAJoint Transportation Research Program, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAJoint Transportation Research Program, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, College of Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2020, 7.3% of large truck driver fatalities had speed as a contributing factor. Several states have implemented truck differential speed limits (DSLs) with the objective of improving safety. This study compares truck speeds in 16 states, 8 of which have implemented DSLs (Arkansas, California, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, and Washington) and 8 of which have not (Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Wyoming). The DSLs ranged from 55 MPH in California (CA) to 70 MPH in Montana (MT). Over 240,000 speed samples from connected trucks were analyzed during a one-week period from 15–22 April 2024. The 50th percentile truck speeds ranged from 60 MPH in Oregon to 69 MPH in Wyoming. The 85th percentile truck speeds ranged from 65 MPH in Washington, Oregon, and California to 74 MPH in Wyoming. The 85th percentile speeds across all segments were greater than the posted truck speed limit in 90% of segments with DSLs, but only 12.5% of segments without DSLs. The average interquartile range (IQR) of truck speeds for the eight states with DSLs was 19% smaller than the average IQR of the eight states without DSLs. The methodologies and visuals presented by this study are easily scalable to any route and location provided the availability of a representative connected truck dataset.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/4/99differential speed limitsconnected truck datatruck speedssafety
spellingShingle Gregory L. Brinster
Jairaj Desai
Rahul Suryakant Sakhare
Jijo K. Mathew
Darcy M. Bullock
Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
Safety
differential speed limits
connected truck data
truck speeds
safety
title Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
title_full Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
title_fullStr Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
title_full_unstemmed Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
title_short Expanding on Methodologies for Analyzing Truck Speeds in States with Differential Speed Limits
title_sort expanding on methodologies for analyzing truck speeds in states with differential speed limits
topic differential speed limits
connected truck data
truck speeds
safety
url https://www.mdpi.com/2313-576X/10/4/99
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