A tragic accident in Lincoln County, NM, has once again spotlighted a lesser-known but deadly issue affecting our roads: truck underride accidents. Jay Drake, a 25-year-old SUV driver, lost his life in a head-on collision on the 5th of April 2023 with a large truck when his vehicle crossed the center line and hit the truck, ultimately causing his car to slide under the semi-trailer—known as an “underride” accident—proving fatal. Yesterday, two legislators lauded NHTSA for naming the named 16 members to a new Advisory Committee on Underrides Protection Act they authored. It’s about time to bring this issue to the forefront, as underride accidents have been responsible for far too many fatalities on our roads.
What are Truck Underride Accidents?
During a crash, truck underride accidents occur when a smaller vehicle slides beneath a larger truck, often most types of trailers. These collisions are particularly dangerous as the substantial difference in height between the vehicles often causes the car’s safety features to be bypassed, putting the occupants at significant risk of severe and potentially fatal injuries.
There are several ways to help prevent truck underrides:
- Install rear guards: Rear guards are metal barriers that hang from the back of a truck’s trailer to prevent cars from sliding underneath. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires rear guards on most commercial trucks, but some older trucks may not.
- Install side guards: Side guards are similar to rear guards but attach to the trailer’s sides. They can prevent cars from sliding underneath the trailer in a side-impact collision.
- Improve visibility: Many underride collisions happen because the driver does not see the truck until it is too late. Improving visibility can help prevent these accidents. Trucking companies can use reflective tape or other high-visibility markings on their trailers or semi-truck jack stands. Car drivers should be cautious when driving near trucks, especially in low-light conditions.
- Educate drivers: Both truck and car drivers need to be educated on the dangers of truck underrides and how to avoid them. Truck drivers should be trained to drive defensively and to be aware of cars around them. Car drivers should be taught to avoid driving in blind spots and to give trucks plenty of space.
- Improve road design: Some underride collisions occur because of poor road design, such as steep embankments or sharp curves. Improving road design can help prevent these accidents.
It’s important to note that preventing truck underrides is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. By combining these strategies, we can work towards reducing the number of underride collisions and improving safety on our roads. Underride collisions are a significant safety concern as the difference in size between trucks and cars can make underrides particularly deadly.
The Gravity of the Issue: Underride Accident Statistics
While underride incidents account for less than 1% of total traffic fatalities, they are not marginal numbers. From 2008 to 2017, an average of about 219 deaths from underride crashes involving large trucks were reported annually. These numbers are conservative estimates because underride collisions are often underreported. These occurrences warrant our attention and concerted action to address the threat they pose to motorists. It would take more than a law mandating the use of rear underride guards to eradicate the threat. To reduce the incidence of underride accidents involving large trucks, it’s critical to take a multi-faceted approach.
Their injuries may permanently alter the life of a survivor. The most favorable outcome for survivors is broken bones, but many of them have paralysis, brain damage, or serious deformity. Some survivors sustain such serious injuries that they require constant caregiver assistance or wheelchair ramps to mitigate mobility limitations. Underride accidents are a serious safety concern as they can have devastating consequences on the lives of survivors and their families. Family of victims like Roya and the Karth sisters made their plight known through campaigning for trucking safety, which has raised awareness of the gravity of these accidents.
Prevention Measures: What Authorities Are Doing
Several measures have been identified to prevent underride accidents, such as installing rear and side guards on semi-trucks. These guards prevent smaller vehicles from sliding under the truck during a collision. Additionally, improving the visibility of large trucks—especially at night—and educating drivers about the dangers of truck underride accidents are essential steps toward curbing this issue.
Lawmakers play an important role in preventing truck underrides by creating and enforcing regulations that promote truck safety. Here are some ways lawmakers can help:
- Strengthen rear guard standards: Lawmakers can work with regulatory agencies like the NHTSA to establish stronger rear guard standards for commercial trucks. The action could require stronger guards, more rigorous testing procedures, and stricter compliance enforcement on truck design.
- Require side guards: Currently, side guards are not required on commercial trucks in the United States. Lawmakers could pass legislation that requires side guards on trucks to prevent cars from sliding underneath the trailer in a side-impact collision.
- Increase funding for research: Lawmakers can allocate funding for research into truck underrides and potential solutions. The undertaking could include financing for crash testing, data analysis, and technology development.
- Promote education and awareness: Lawmakers can work with agencies and organizations to promote education and awareness campaigns to inform the public about the dangers of truck underrides and how to prevent them. Public awareness could include creating public service announcements, distributing educational materials, and partnering with schools to teach safe driving practices.
- Improve road infrastructure: Lawmakers can allocate funding for road infrastructure improvements that can help prevent truck underrides. Improvements include adding guardrails, improving road signage, and redesigning intersections.
Lawmakers have a vital role in addressing underride accidents. Agencies should work with regulatory agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish stronger rear guard standards for commercial trucks. Also, lawmakers should collaborate with agencies and organizations to promote education and awareness campaigns to raise the public’s knowledge of the dangers of truck underrides.
What Can We Do: Raising Awareness and Taking Action
As public members, we can make our voices heard by raising awareness about the risks associated with truck underride accidents. Reach out to your local representatives, attend city council meetings, or hold discussions at community gatherings to put this issue at the forefront of public attention. Engaging through social media channels can also be an impactful way to raise awareness of this danger.
In adopting these steps, we come together as a community to ensure the implementation of safer truck underride measures becomes a priority. It’s essential to remember that every life is precious, and we must do our part in championing this cause, ultimately making our roads safer for everyone. After all, each of us is a road user, and public awareness remains the key to successfully solving this dangerous problem.