“Our police chiefs oppose bigger trucks because they must protect the public, law-enforcement officers and others who work in these areas of risk. When law-enforcement officers patrol the highway, they are forced to contend with winter weather just like other motorists. Officers face enough dangers already and do not need bigger trucks in bad weather added to the traffic mix.
Then, when working on the roadside for a crash scene or disabled vehicle, officers deal with snow, wind gusts and tractor-trailers buzzing by only a few feet away. For officers, allowing bigger trucks would mean even more dangers in and outside the cruiser.
Research supports the case against heavier and longer trucks, as well. When Congress mandated that the U.S. Department of Transportation analyze bigger trucks, its strong recommendation in 2016 was to make no changes to truck size or weight laws. After analyzing heavier trucks, researchers found 47 percent to 400 percent higher crash rates than trucks operating at today’s 80,000 pounds — and it determined longer doubles require 22 more feet of pavement to stop than do today’s double-trailer trucks.”