WASHINGTON – A proposed rule to require speed limiters on commercial trucks and buses could become another victim of Congress, which has been focused on deregulation since President Donald Trump took office.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved an appropriations bill that prohibits any funds from being used to implement the speed limiter mandate.
The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and co-sponsored by Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., was inserted into HR3354, an appropriations bill for the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Environment and other related agencies.
The United Motorcoach Association wrote a letter of support for the amendment, which is similar to a provision in HR 2120 — named Buses United for Safety, Regulatory Reform and Enhanced Growth for the 21st Century (BUSREGS-21).
Perry also introduced that landmark bill, which is designed to roll back burdensome federal regulations on the bus and motorcoach industry that UMA officials say amount to “regulatory overreach.”
Although it is unclear whether BUSREGS-21 will ever make it into law, several provisions in the bill could wind up in other legislation, which is exactly what Perry did with the speed-limiter amendment.
The overall appropriations bill still has to be considered by the Senate.
UMA has proposed that large buses be exempt from any final rule concerning speed limiters. The association argues that passenger carriers routinely travel in high-occupancy vehicle and high-occupancy toll lanes, along with designated highways and parkways that prohibit trucks but allow buses.
It said the speed-limiter rule could increase rather than decrease crashes.
