From self-driving operation to 360-degree surround detection systems, modern vehicles are increasingly adopting technological solutions to safety issues on the road. But what about larger vehicles also sharing our freeways, like trucks and buses? According to a recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,964 people died and an estimated 95,000 suffered injured in crashes involving large trucks in 2013. In light of these and other findings, experts have begun developing the following four truck safety technologies that could significantly reduce related injuries by 2025.
1. Automatic braking systems
Using an advanced radar device mounted on the front bumper, a truck heading toward a line of traffic will soon be able to detect an impending collision and respond accordingly, automatically. If the driver fails to respond to any of these signals, automatic braking systems take over to ultimately prevent the collision.
2. Onboard communication devices
To keep records of vehicle engine data, speed, location, and other information that can be used to better understand how accidents happen, modern trucks are gradually implementing onboard communication devices. In addition to providing crucial data, these systems help to identify drivers who may need extra training. Managers also get to apply data analytics to create models that systematically predict which drivers will be a safety risk.
3. Passive safety systems
According to Jason Spence, Product Marketing Manager-Long Haul at Volvo Trucks, “If a collision is unavoidable, many passive safety systems absorb much of the crash’s energy to reduce its severity.” Volvo’s own passive safety system features cabs made from high-strength steel. Engineers designed the system in such a way that, in the event of a crash, the engine and transmission will drop down and away from the driver, and the steering wheel column will collapse. Another fundamental component of this system is the driver’s side airbag, which Volvo helped become standard in trucks.
4. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC systems in truck tractors and large buses are designed to reduce rollovers and ease severe understeer or oversteer conditions that lead to loss of control. To accomplish these goals, ESC systems utilize automatic engine torque reduction in addition to computer-controlled braking. Legislative advocates who seek to make these systems a requirement for large vehicles claim ESC systems could prevent 40 to 56 percent of untripped rollover crashes and 14 percent of loss-of-control crashes.
Although these new technologies have promising implications, the Kelly Law Team is prepared to defend your rights in the meantime. If you have sustained personal injuries in a recent auto or truck accident, contact our firm today for a free consultation at 602.283.4122.
