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It has been forty years since the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) first started studying under-ride crashes caused by the lack of protection on semi-trailers. It announced in September 2018 that 8 major truck trailer makers were now making rear guards capable of preventing deadly under-ride accidents.

David Zuby, IIHS chief researchofficer, said, "We're pleased that all the major manufacturers responded positively to our under-ride tests. By improving their guards, these companies have demonstrated a commitment to the safety of passenger vehicle occupants who share the road with their trailers."

Federal safety standards were first established in 1996 for under-ride guards for trailers and semi-trailers. The standards were to help reduce the risk to passenger vehicle occupants in crashes in which passenger vehicles impact the rear end of a trailer or semi-trailer. Standards were subsequently updated in 2004. According to IIHS, these standards did not go far enough. However, the rear guards tested recently showed a marked improvement over those manufactured to the 2004 standards.

IIHS 2016 statistics showed that “424 of the 2,056 passenger vehicle occupants killed in large truck crashes died when their vehicles struck the rear of a large truck. It's not known how many of these were under-ride crashes. A 2010 IIHS analysis of a small sample of fatal crashes involving the rear of a truck found that 82 percent involved under-ride.”

In January 2018, a bipartisan measure to mandate guard rails on the sides and front of large trucks started making its way through Congress. The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 was introduced by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) as well as Representatives Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-California). This act would require under-ride guards be fitted on the sides and front of trucks.

Senator Gillibrand said, “With so many unpredictable accidents on the road, under-ride guards are an easy solution for protecting people and preventing them from dying when a car collides with a truck.”

“The improvement in truck rear guards in deterring under-ride accidents is just a start in decreasing injuries and deaths on our roads. When all large trucks are equipped with rear, side and front guards, we will have fewer deaths when smaller vehicles are in accidents with these large vehicles,” said Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

“If you or a loved one is injured in a vehicle accident, please contact us. We have the experience and team ready to assist you,” said Attorney Spivey.

Fort Myers Truck Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.