The rule, which is being published by the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will require devices to mitigate rear-end underride crashes of single unit trucks.
Last July, NHTSA said it would issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for rear impact guards for single unit trucks and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the guards on trailers and semi-trailers.
The agency began the efforts last year after the Truck Safety Coalition petitioned to have all trucks and trailers equipped with energy-absorbing rear impact or underride guards. These would be mounted lower to the ground, 16 in., with vertical supports spaced farther apart – 8 in. from the side edges.
The coalition says these guards would protect car occupants from death and injury in rear impact crashes. A separate rulemaking to require the guards on trailers and semi-trailers has yet to be sent to the OMB.
