Federal data shows a 28 percent increase in the number of large truck crash fatalities between 2009 and 2016. Using this data as a starting point, The Kansas City Star has published an article advocating mandatory crash avoidance technology on commercial trucks. Truckers in Oklahoma will want to know what supporters, opponents and those in between are saying at the moment.
The Star focused its criticism on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for not proposing any regulations that would mandate forward crash avoidance and mitigation systems on all heavy trucks. This is despite the fact that the National Transportation Safety Board has been urging such an action since the late 1990s. The NTSB, for its part, does not have the authority to act on such a recommendation itself.
NHTSA, however, has stated that it is currently conducting research on next-generation versions of automatic emergency braking. It intends to wrap up the research in 18 to 24 months, after which it may come to an informed decision regarding the issue.
Trucking companies that have implemented crash avoidance systems say that they can reduce the number of rear-end collisions by more than 70 percent as well as mitigate the severity of any accidents. Lobbying groups like the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, however, believe that the decision to implement safety tech should be left to trucking companies.
It must be remembered that safety tech will backfire on drivers if they become complacent with it. When negligence is behind truck accidents, those who are injured through no fault of their own can consider filing a claim. This is where a lawyer might be helpful. Personal injury lawyers have networks of accident investigators, photographers and medical experts who may be able to prove the defendant’s negligence and show how all the reported injuries are accident-related. The lawyer might also handle negotiations.
