Truck Crash Prevention Through Technology

It is a truck driver’s responsibility to pay careful attention, to leave a safe following distance, and to take reasonable precautions to reduce the chances of a collision occurring.  While truckers have an obligation to exercise caution behind the wheel, human error can still result in motor vehicle collisions. Four highway safety lobbies believe there is technology already in existence that could significantly reduce the chances of a motor vehicle accident happening because of human error. Trucking Info reports that these safety lobbies have petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to initiate a rule requiring the new technologies to be mandated for all new trucks and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 or more.

Even if the NHTSA moves forward with the proposed rule making, the process of enacting new mandates takes a long time. The rule would first have to be drafted and then go through a public comment period.  Truck manufacturers may voluntarily choose to include crash prevention systems in their vehicles, and trucking companies may choose to purchase these systems even absent official requirements.  Regardless of what technologies are installed in vehicles, however, it will remain the responsibility of truck drivers to exercise reasonable caution at all times.

Technology Can Help With Truck Crash Prevention

Highway safety advocates are urging NHTSA to impose a requirement that two specific collision-prevention technologies be incorporated into new trucks.  The technologies include Forward Collision Avoidance (F-CAM) and mitigation braking systems.

F-Cam technology incorporates the use of sensors and radars in order to provide a warning to the truck driver that a collision is imminent. A Forward Collision Warning (FCW) alerts the driver both to the fact a car in front has come to a stop and to the fact the car in front is beginning to slow down. This gives more chance for the truck driver to brake.  Mitigation braking systems, on the other hand, automatically brake if a truck driver has not paid attention to the FCW or if the trucker is unable to brake. Although the mitigation braking system may not necessarily stop the truck in time to avoid the accident, it does at least slow the truck down before the crash. This can reduce the severity of the accident because a slower-moving truck will hit with less force and impact.

NHTSA has estimated that the current generation F-CAM system could prevent 2,500 motor vehicle collisions each year.  As the technology improves, crash prevention will get better. Future systems could stop as many as 6,300 collisions each year.  However, NHTSA has not yet made the decision if it is going to require the installation of the crash prevention technologies in motor vehicles.

Truck drivers can do their part to manually prevent collisions by paying attention to the road, following safety rules, and exercising caution at all times.

A Long Beach Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help

Your Injuries are Personal to Me

If you were involved in a truck crash, a Long Beach truck accident lawyer can provide you with legal representation. The Law Office of Michael D. Waks represents clients in collisions with commercial motor vehicles.

I have helped many clients successfully show they were harmed by a careless trucker and obtain compensation for crash losses. I take your injuries personally and I will fight for your right to full compensation after an injury occurs. Call the Law Office of Michael D. Waks at 888-394-1174 or use the convenient online contact form to schedule a free consultation.