[jonahhorowitz]

> For one thing, they're not speed-limited, unlike heavy-duty trucks in Europe, which aren't allowed to go faster than 56 mph (90 km/h). "So we had to take that in consideration in the design," explained Stadler.

Seems like we could help things a lot by adding this regulation to trucks in America. Slower == better fuel efficiency and safer too!

[uticus]

I'm skeptical, if slower == better fuel efficiency, everything else being the same, the owners would drive slower because that would be money in their pocket.

If you're looking for levers to tweak the system, this probably ain't the one.

[zardo]

Aero drag goes with velocity squared, it is absolutely more effecient to reduce speeds.

Drivers are paid by the mile, if you drive faster your effective hourly pay goes up.

[TheRealPomax]

Safer for... who? The 500 miles of mostly empty highway through no-man's land between two population centers? The US, unlike Europe, is mostly empty. You can drive for 5 hours and not just still be in the same state, you're still on the same road.

The only type of road where a regulator would make sense is the kind of road where in the US a regulator makes no sense. Every other type of road already has speed limits at or below what a regulator would be set to.

[eddd-ddde]

Safer for the driver?

[wiredfool]

I see plenty of trucks^H^H^H^H^H HGVs going 100+ in Ireland in 120 (auto)/80(truck) zones.

[jandrewrogers]

That would significantly increase the cost. The US isn't Europe, long haul trucking is traversing a thousand kilometers at a time on mostly empty flat highways.

[dghlsakjg]

The speed limit for trucks in CA is 55mph statewide. Doesn't seem to be that big an issue.

[KeplerBoy]

Or it would lower costs because saving gas saves money.