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On May 4, 2012, ABC Action News published an article regarding the serious concerns associated with under-ride collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), these types of collisions occur when a passenger vehicle collides into the rear end of a large truck. The under-ride guard located on the back of a large truck is intended to minimize the disastrous effects of a collision. However, the guard is oftentimes not strong enough to prevent the passenger vehicle from diving underneath the tractor trailer.
Recent statistics point to the failure of under-ride guards in preventing injury and death of motorists in these types of collisions. On average, more than 400 driver and passenger fatalities occur every year as a result of under-ride collisions. Furthermore, approximately 5,000 drivers and passengers are injured on average every year as a result of under-ride collisions.
Although under-ride guards on trailers have been mandated by law since the 1950s, the standards for these guards have not changed since the 1990s. Recent testing conducted by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that under-ride guards on the road today are not as strong as they need to be. The NHTSA, the agency responsible for truck safety in the U.S., will not reach a decision on whether to implement stricter standards on under-ride guards until it concludes its own testing of the guards.
See the full ABC Action News article at: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/i-team-feds-take-their-time-to-address-safety-concerns-about-the-backs-of-tractor-trailers
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