ATLANTA — A Buckhead couple say they're cautiously optimistic the feds will soon limit how fast big rigs can cruise.
Cullum Owings was months from graduating college 13 years ago when he was killed when a tractor-trailer slammed into the car he was driving. The pain is still very raw for his parents, Steven and Susan Owings.
"He was a wonderful young man, a lot to offer. Just a wasteful, horrible tragic loss that is repeated more than 10 times every day in this country," Steve Owings said.
Cullum's brother, a passenger, suffered only cuts and bruises, and comforted his older brother as he drew his final breath on the interstate.
Their parents have been fighting for tougher safety regulations for big rigs ever since, spending more than a month in Washington every year.
"Nobody should be surprised that truck drivers who are legally allowed to work over 80 hours a week are occasionally sleepy or inattentive," Steve Owings said.
The Owingses point to two recent crashes on Interstate 16 that killed a total of 10 people, including five nursing students.
Large trucks already have devices installed that limit how fast they can go. But the federal government has yet to make turning them on mandatory.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has delayed making that decision 20 times since 2011.
Now the Owingses have Sens. Johnny Isakson and David Perdue, both R-Ga., on their side.
Both of senators are urging the Obama administration to adopt the long-pending safety measure.
"It saves lives. It's a common-sense solution. We had 1,100 people die in truck-related accidents and this would help reduce that," Perdue told Channel 2's Lori Geary.
"We're grateful for the opportunity to do something, to make a difference otherwise we would be left with this sort of loss that changed our lives forever," Susan Owings said. "I wish I could tell you that doing this eased my loss. It doesn't. It's a sadness we live with every day."
The next expected date the feds have set to publish the speed limiter rule is July 27.
The Owingses say they'd like to see speeds capped at 65 miles per hour.
WSBTV
