A recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recommend the use of new safety equipment to prevent passenger vehicles from driving underneath a semi trailer during a side collision.
The report suggests the use of “side guards” similar to the rear underride guards (or DOT bumpers) which are currently required on the back of trailers.
In a test environment, the side guards successfully prevented a mid-size sedan, traveling at 35-miles-per hour, from going underneath a trailer.
“It prevented the car from going underneath and consequently the airbags and seatbelts were able to protect the driver dummy in those crash tests,” said David Zuby, chief research officer for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The trucking industry, however, has expressed concerns about the recommended side guards.
First, truck owners say the added cost to install the guards may place undue economic strain on their businesses.
Critics are also concerned about the extra weight the side-guards will add to their equipment.
Lastly, some industry experts claim the side guards may compromise structural integrity, possibly leading to cracks in the trailer’s frames.
Despite the opposition, the institute is now urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to introduce new legislation requiring the use of the side guards.
“We think a mandate for side underride guards on large trucks has merit, especially as crash deaths continue to rise on our roads,” Zuby added.