L&MT Magazine: Onboard Safety Devices

Truck drivers may be hearing more beeps and whistles in their cabs if a predicted increase in the number of on-board warning devices and collision avoidance systems increases.

A mixture of state rules and prospective federal rules are all focused on trying to reduce accidents involving trucks and some of them are trying to require safety equipment on commercial trucks as a way of improving safety.

Add in rising accident and liability insurance costs, and fleets may take closer looks at on-board safety devices.

Most recently, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the Department of Transportation mandate collision warning systems on all new commercial vehicles (see News, page 7) as a way of reducing rear-end collisions.

NTSB’s recommendation may have some political weight, but the safety group has no power in and of itself to issue a rule and the DOT is not required to follow its recommendations. Additionally, NTSB’s focus, as well as DOT’s in this area, is on heavy-duty over-the-road trucks.

For the full story, see the June issue of Light & Medium Truck. Subscribe today.

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