The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed a rear impact protection regulation. Plan on this going forward. This possible amendment will require, single unit trucks to require rear impact (underride) guards. It will also require them to improve the standards’ requirements for guards. This includes guards now required for heavy trailers, and semitrailers. In addition to requiring underride guards the NHTSA is also requesting that trucks have retroreflective tape placed on the rear end and sides of the vehicle to provide more visibility to the truck.
Costs Go Up
While these proposed rear impact protection regulations would cause less causalities and injuries on the road, they could be costly to the company who owns ten or more trucks, or even to an individual who owns a single truck. According to the NHTSA, “it is estimated that an underride guard costs $453 per vehicle, along with the cost to the industry of adding the unit is $155 million.”
Fuel Efficiency Drops
Not only would these rear impact protection guards be causing a possible hole in your pocket, a decrease in fuel efficiency problem would also occur. Rear impact protection guards for a vehicle can add an additional 210 pounds (95kg) to the vehicle. With this added weight, drivers, or company owners, could be looking at an estimated additional fuel cost of $1,500 per vehicle.
Lives are Saved
A rear impact protection regulations law increases costs. Drivers and company owners plan on providing the vehicles with more rear impact guards. The NHTSA estimate reap impact protection guards on all large vehicles will reduce casualties. Those caused by rear end impacts that occurred at 35mph or lower go down an outstanding 85%. The NHTSA also performed a study on 2010-2013 rear impact fatalities. It averaged out to about 34 deaths per year.
Tis proposed law could be troublesome to the people who care for their trucks. It could also potentially save many of lives. Comments are currently open for the proposal, meaning average drivers, like us, can throw in our input as well. To send in your statement, visit http://www.regulations.gov/ and search for Docket No. NHTSA-2015-0070. There, you’ll be able to find the addresses to send in your comment. However, comments are only open until September21, 2015.
