Proposed Bill Would Require Front and Side Impact Guards

A have proposed a bill to require impact guards on the sides and front of a truck in order to product passenger vehicles from being crushed underneath a vehicle in a collision.

by Staff

December 12, 2017

Proposed Bill Would Require Front and Side Impact Guards — *Photo: IIHS*

1 min to read

Several Members of Congress have proposed a bill to require impact guards on the sides and front of trucks to product passenger vehicles from being crushed underneath a a in a collision, according to an NBC News report.

The Stop Underrides Act of 2017 has been introduced by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and is co-sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), with Sen. Rubio saying that the bipartisan legislation would save lives.

In addition to requiring side and front guards, the Stop Underrides Act would also update and improve rear-guard requirements.

Testing earlier this year by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed that side impact guards on truck trailers demonstrated potentially lifesaving benefits in side impact collisions. The tests were accompanied by video showing the roof of a car being sheared off in a collision at 35 miles per hour, decapitating the test dummy.

Another car at the same speed is shown hitting a trailer with the underride guard and it bounces off of it with only damage to the front of the vehicle.

The Natonal Transportation Safety Board recommended underride guard for trailer protection in 2014.

Topics:Legislation Underride Guard Underride U.S. Congress Side Guards Safety & Compliance Fleet Management

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