Iteris Inc., the Anaheim, Calif.-base developer of vision-based safety technologies, said the results of a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) strongly validates
the need for more commercial vehicles to be equipped with active safety technologies.
Iteris' award-winning Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system, the first of its kind to be available on Class 8 trucks, addresses what the study found to be the leading cause of truck crashes nationwide.
The study found that more than 32 percent of crashes where the truck was at fault were the result of departing from the roadway or crossing over the lane line, making it the single-largest cause of large-truck injury and fatality crashes. Additionally, the study found that in crashes caused by the driver, 40 percent resulted from driver inattention/distraction, fatigue or other physical ailments.
According to prior studies conducted by the FMCSA, the average cost of an accident caused by a large truck involving fatalities is approximately $3.4 million while the average cost of an accident involving injuries was $217,000. These costs include medical expenses, emergency services, property damage, lost productivity and monetized quality-adjusted life years.
"We believe the number of accidents prevented and lives saved are increasing with the widespread deployment of active safety technologies such as our Lane Departure Warning system," said Jack Johnson, president and CEO for Iteris. "Iteris is encouraged the government conducted such a realistic study on causes of large truck crashes. We believe these findings make a strong case for LDW systems to be in all commercial vehicles."