Automobile safety technology gets more sophisticated all the time. And new features that correct for driver error are among the most exciting advancements in recent years. Everything from blind-spot monitoring to lane-keeping technology reduce injurious and fatal accidents by automating some of the driving experience and saving us from our own mistakes.
It turns out that the same technology is often available in 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks. And given just how deadly these vehicles can be, it stands to reason that such technology should become standard as soon as possible.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently released a report on the effectiveness of two specific technological innovations in trucks. They are automatic emergency braking (AEB) and forward collision warning. These two technologies are part of a comprehensive front crash prevention system, which uses radar, cameras and other devices to monitor road conditions ahead of the vehicle.
The study looked at 2,000 crashes involving trucks that weighed at least 33,000 pounds (about 20 to 30 times heavier than most passenger vehicles). The study found that forward collision warning systems reduced rear-end crashes (where the truck slams into another vehicle from behind) by 44 percent. Automatic emergency braking reduced the same type of crashes by 41 percent.
In terms of traffic safety, these statistics are about as impressive as it gets. In any collision between a semi-truck and a smaller vehicle, there is no question about which vehicle will fare worse. Truck drivers often escape crashes uninjured while occupants of smaller vehicles can easily suffer debilitating injuries, paralysis or even death.
Each year, truck accidents in the United States claim an average of more than 4,000 lives. If these technologies could prevent even a fraction of these deaths, they would be well worth the additional costs. Considering just how devastating truck accidents can be, perhaps regulators should mandate front crash prevention systems as soon as possible.
In the meantime, if you or a loved one have been seriously injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent truck driver, please contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and legal options.
