Petition to the California Legislature

Subject: Request for Legislative Action to Adjust Semi-Truck Speed Limits on California Highways

To the Honorable Members of the California State Legislature,

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the California State Legislature to reassess and revise the speed limit regulations for semi-trucks operating on California highways. Specifically, we urge you to consider increasing the speed limit for semi-trucks from 55 mph to better align with the 65-70 mph limits observed by most other vehicles on these roadways.

Concerns and Dangers of Current Speed Disparity

 1. Increased Risk of Collisions Due to Speed Differentials

 • When passenger vehicles travel at 70 mph while semi-trucks are restricted to 55 mph, the significant speed disparity creates unsafe conditions. Faster-moving vehicles are forced to weave around slower trucks, leading to tailgating, sudden lane changes, and an overall increase in collision risk.

 • Uniform speed among vehicles has been shown to reduce crash rates. The current regulation unintentionally increases rear-end collisions and side-swipes on busy highways.

 2. Traffic Flow Disruption

 • The slower speed of semi-trucks impedes the natural flow of traffic, particularly in high-density corridors. This results in bottlenecks and congestion as passenger vehicles frequently overtake or merge around slower trucks.

 • The issue is exacerbated on inclines, where trucks often move even slower, further disrupting traffic flow.

 3. Driver Fatigue and Operational Inefficiency

 • The current speed limit forces truck drivers to spend longer hours on the road to complete their deliveries, increasing driver fatigue—a leading cause of accidents involving large trucks.

 • Aligning speed limits would improve delivery efficiency and reduce the time truckers spend on California highways.

 4. Alignment with National Standards

 • Many states with high-speed highways set semi-truck speed limits closer to passenger vehicle speeds, typically at 65 mph. California’s unique restriction creates operational challenges for interstate trucking and increases accident risk near state borders.

Proposed Legislative Action

We propose that the Legislature:

 • Amend the California Vehicle Code to increase the speed limit for semi-trucks to 65 mph on highways where the posted speed for passenger vehicles is 70 mph.

 • Direct Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol to conduct safety and traffic studies to support the alignment of speed limits for all vehicles.

This adjustment would:

 • Reduce the speed differential between vehicles.

 • Improve traffic flow and overall highway safety.

 • Enhance operational efficiency for trucking companies, which are vital to California’s economy.

Conclusion

California highways are among the busiest in the nation, and ensuring their safety requires laws that reflect modern traffic patterns and realities. Aligning the speed limits for semi-trucks with those of passenger vehicles will create safer, more efficient highways for all road users.

We kindly urge the Legislature to prioritize this issue and act to modernize California’s speed limit regulations.

Thank you for your attention and service to our state.

Sincerely,
Troy Nova