The IIHS examined data on crashes per vehicle mile traveled from 62 carriers operating tractor-trailers and other trucks weighing at least 33,000 lb. IIHS Director of Statistical Services Eric Teoh found that trucks equipped with forward collision warning had 22 percent fewer crashes and trucks with AEB had 12 percent fewer crashes than those without either technology. Forward collision warning and AEB reduced rear-end crashes — the specific type of collision they’re designed to prevent — by 44 and 41 percent, respectively.
Although their drivers crash less often per mile traveled, large trucks can be especially deadly because they can weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger vehicles. U.S. crashes involving large trucks have risen by nearly a third since hitting an all-time low in 2009, killing 4,136 people in 2018. Among those fatalities, 119 deaths resulted from large trucks rear-ending passenger vehicles, the IIHS says.
Overall, Teoh’s study covered approximately 2,000 crashes that occurred over more than 2 billion vehicle miles traveled during 2017-19. The analysis excluded incidents that weren’t serious enough to result in injury or significant property damage.
“This study provides evidence that forward collision warning and AEB greatly reduce crash risk for tractor-trailers and other large trucks,” Teoh says. “That’s important information for trucking companies and drivers who are weighing the costs and benefits of these options on their next vehicles.”
Front crash prevention systems use cameras, radar or other sensors to monitor the roadway ahead. Some include only forward collision warning, which alerts the driver to obstacles in the roadway. AEB systems go further by automatically applying the brakes to prevent the collision or reduce its severity.
The European Union has required AEB with forward collision warning on most new heavy trucks since November 2013.
