Crash-Avoidance Technology Could Yield $3.1 Billion Benefit, Says NHTSA

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that crash-avoidance technology that engages brakes in heavy-duty trucks may prevent 300 fatalities a year and yield up to $3.1 billion in economic benefit, Bloomberg News reported.

The estimate is from a study conducted by the University of Michigan Research Institute as part of the NHTSA’s review on the technology, Bloomberg reported.

According to the study, the economic benefit could be from $900 million for older technology on heavy-duty trucks to $3.1 billion if future improvements are installed on medium-size straight trucks as well as larger trucks, Bloomberg reported.

The system is built on anti-lock brakes and uses radar and software to alert a driver to an imminent crash, then automatically engaging brakes if a driver doesn’t react.

Meritor Wabco said it sold 10,000 systems, which cost about $2,400 each, last year. The company expects to sell 15,000 this year, Bloomberg said.