Government Pushing For Crash-Avoidance Technology On Tractor Trailers

New Orleans personal injury accidents involving large trucks lead to some of the most devastating injuries of any motor vehicle accidents. While certain forms of crash-avoidance technology have been available on high end motor vehicles for years, truck manufacturers and the federal government have only begun to evaluate how this technology may help reduce serious injuries and death arising from truck accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed that large trucks and buses be required to have an electronic stability control (ESC) system. According the NHTSA’s studies, ESC systems may prevent up to 56 percent of rollovers and 14 percent of crashes caused by loss of control. This translates into approximately 858 fewer injuries and about 60 fewer deaths in truck accidents every year.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also has been involved in analyzing the effectiveness of different crash-avoidance systems when applied to tractor trailers. In a study of forward-collision warning systems for trucks, the FMCSA determined that, between 2001 to 2005, anywhere from 8,597 to 18,013 rear-end collisions involving trucks may have been prevented if trucks had been fitted with such warning systems.

While none of this technology is federally mandated yet, some truck manufacturers have begun taking a serious look at crash avoidance technology. Recently, Volvo released a new line of trucks that uses forward radar, a camera and a computer to monitor objects ahead of the truck and, when necessary, to apply the brakes. Such technology helps reduce the potential for driver error in determining when to apply the brakes to avoid collision.

Unfortunately, it will be some time before collision-avoidance technology sees widespread use among the U.S. tractor trailer fleet. If you have been injured in a collision involving a truck, please give a call at (504) 527-8767. We would be happy to answer your questions.