In 2004, 64% of U.S. truck crash fatalities involved crashes to the front of the truck. The U.S. still has no lifesaving Front Underrun Protection Device (FUPD) Standard. Since August 2003, new trucks in Europe must be fitted with an adequate Front Underrun Protection device (FUP) [ECE Regulation No. 93]. EEVC Working Group 14 estimated that the effect of the new regulation was saving 900 lives of car occupants annually. A benefit analysis, also performed by WG14, showed that 300 lives extra could be saved annually by installing an energy absorbing front underrun system on trucks with regard to the new regulation standard. Plans are underway to extend the front of the truck 300mm to 500mm or more to create a crash zone or deformable soft nose that would absorb crash energy and might reduce serious injuries and fatalities another 10% from the current standard on trucks with energy-absorbing guards, and survivable speeds would be increased to 80-90kph. Truck length standards would need to be extended to allow for the length of these new safety devices, and extensions for safety devices only seem quite reasonable.
Truck crash fatalities increased in the U.S. in 2004, and it is clear to achieve substantial reductions in the number of severe injury and fatal crashes a FUP standard will be required in the U.S. The U.S. DOT should immediately harmonize a new U.S. FUP standard for new trucks to the current ECE Regulation No. 93 and allow length exemptions for extended underride devices. Work then must begin on a strong energy-absorbing guard standard meeting current state-of-the-art research standards.
ECE R93 The European Front Underrun Protection Device Regulation PDF Document.
The current stiff rear underride guard standards are a safety compromise that do not protect all sizes and weights of current vehicles. They ultimately are too stiff for small vehicles or are too weak for large vehicles. Only energy-absorbing guards provide protection for most sizes and weights of current vehicles and modern designs are cheap and simple to implement. Any new rear underride guard standard should be an energy-absorbing guard standard to reflect state-of-the-art research and interact properly with modern vehicle designs.
Governments that allow killer trucks and trailers to operate without side protection are violating the human rights of their citizens. Cost-benefit analysis cannot be used as a defense for human rights violations. A sedan colliding with the side of an unguarded trailer at only 28 mph (17 km/h) can completely travel under the trailer, ripping the roof from the car! See the photos of a side underride crash test here (Side Crash Test Photos).
16% of fatal crashes with trucks in the U.S. in 2004 occurred at the sides of the truck. The U.S. has no side guard protection standard to protect motorists. To curb these needless fatalities the U.S. must propose a side guard protection standard for trucks and trailers, Europe has required side guard protection since 1989. Side guard regulations must be updated to incorporate state-of the-art research standards including energy-absorption and outer frame technologies.
DIRECTIVE 89/297/EEC - Lateral protection (side guards) of certain motor vehicles and their trailers