Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2021

To require the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate standards and regulations requiring all new commercial motor vehicles to be equipped with technology to limit maximum operating speed, to require existing speed-limiting technologies already installed in commercial motor vehicles manufactured after 1992 to be used while in operation, and to require that the maximum safe operating speed of commercial motor vehicles shall not exceed 65 miles per hour, or 70 miles per hour with certain safety technologies. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2021 2. Federal motor vehicle safety standard and Federal motor carrier safety regulation for speed-limiting technologies (a) Findings Congress finds that— (1) according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, during the period beginning on January 1, 2004, and ending on December 31, 2013, 10,440 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in which the speed of a commercial motor vehicle likely contributed to severity; (2) a 2007 survey of truck drivers by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety determined that 64 percent of the drivers were in favor of a speed-limiting requirement; (3) according to a 2012 study commissioned by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, trucks not using a speed-limiting technology had a speed limit-relevant crash rate almost 2 times higher than the rate of trucks using a speed-limiting technology; (4) speed-limiting devices have been required to be installed and used on commercial motor vehicles throughout the world, including in— (A) Australia, which has required the use of those devices since 1990; (B) the United Kingdom, which has required the use of those devices since 1992; and (C) the European Union, which has required the use of those devices since 1994; and (5) the Department of Transportation has been examining the issues involving speed-limiting technologies since at least 2006. (b) Definitions In this section: (1) Adaptive cruise control system The term adaptive cruise control system (A) to maintain a set speed; and (B) when applicable, to adjust the set speed to maintain a specified distance from a lead vehicle. (2) Automatic emergency braking system The term automatic emergency braking system (A) detects potential collisions; (B) provides to the driver a warning of each detected potential collision; and (C) applies brakes automatically when a forward collision is imminent. (3) Commercial motor vehicle The term commercial motor vehicle (A) is used in interstate commerce; and (B) has a gross vehicle weight rating or a gross vehicle weight of not less than 26,001 pounds. (4) Secretary The term Secretary (5) Speed-limiting technology The term speed-limiting technology (c) Federal motor vehicle safety standard and motor carrier safety regulation (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall— (A) acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, issue a final rule that— (i) establishes a Federal motor vehicle safety standard that requires that all commercial motor vehicles manufactured after the effective date of the standard shall be equipped with a speed-limiting technology; and (ii) prescribes performance standards for speed-limiting technologies, automatic emergency braking systems, and adaptive cruise control systems that reduce or mitigate collisions at speeds of not faster than 70 miles per hour; and (B) acting through the Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, issue a final rule that establishes a Federal motor carrier safety regulation that requires that any existing speed-limiting technology already installed in a commercial motor vehicle manufactured after December 31, 1992, shall be used at any time during which the commercial motor vehicle is in operation, in accordance with paragraph (2). (2) Requirements In issuing a final rule pursuant to paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— (A) include requirements to ensure that each speed-limiting technology— (i) accurately measures the speed of the applicable commercial motor vehicle; and (ii) maintains a maximum speed of not faster than 65 miles per hour, or not faster than 70 miles per hour with the use of an adaptive cruise control system and an automatic emergency braking system, to ensure the safety of commercial motor vehicle drivers and the public, regardless of whether the speed-limiting technology was installed in the commercial motor vehicle— (I) prior to the effective date of the standard or regulation; or (II) for purposes of achieving compliance with the standard under paragraph (1)(A); and (B) as necessary, amend any Federal motor vehicle safety standards or Federal motor carrier safety regulations to require that all commercial motor vehicles shall travel at a speed of not faster than— (i) 65 miles per hour; or (ii) 70 miles per hour with the use of adaptive cruise control systems and automatic emergency braking systems. (3) Secretarial review (A) In general Not less frequently than once every 5 years, the Secretary shall conduct a review of all applicable Federal speed-governing regulations, taking into consideration— (i) deployed safety technologies available in commercial motor vehicles; (ii) the overall impact of the safety technologies described in clause (i) on highway safety; and (iii) available data relating to the use of speed-limiting technologies by commercial motor vehicles. (B) Purpose The purpose of each review under this paragraph shall be to ensure that proven technologies and data are considered in the context of speed-governing regulations to enhance road safety. (C) Recommendations; publication On conclusion of each review under this paragraph, the Secretary shall— (i) submit to Congress recommendations for improvement of Federal speed-governing regulations, if any; and (ii) publish and provide an opportunity for public comment regarding the findings of the review and recommendations, if any. (d) Implementation (1) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, each commercial motor vehicle that is subject to the standard established under subsection (c)(1)(A) shall ensure that a speed-limiting technology establishes and maintains for the commercial motor vehicle a maximum safe speed of not faster than— (A) 65 miles per hour; or (B) 70 miles per hour with the use of an adaptive cruise control system and an automatic emergency braking system. (2) Verification of compliance with requirements The owner of each commercial motor vehicle subject to a requirement under this section shall verify, and submit to the Secretary a certification of, compliance with the requirement at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may establish, by regulation.

Summary: Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act of 2021 This bill directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to implement regulations to require (1) all new commercial motor vehicles with a gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more to be equipped with speed-limiting technology; (2) any existing speed-limiting technology already installed in such vehicles manufactured after December 31, 1992, to be used while in operation; and (3) the speed-limiting technology to be set to a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour, or 70 miles per hour with the use of adaptive cruise control systems and automatic emergency braking systems. The NHTSA must also prescribe performance standards for speed-limiting technologies, automatic braking systems, and adaptive cruise control systems that reduce or mitigate collisions at speeds of not faster than 70 miles per hour.