The Life-Saving Safety Equipment Trucking Companies Fail to Install

When going to buy a new car, you will find that most models today are available with a wide variety of safety features. Back-up cameras, blind spot cameras and detectors, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane assist, and more can be found on most brand-new passenger vehicles. All these safety features work to keep both you and everyone else safe on the road by preventing accidents, specifically ones that are a result of distracted or fatigued driving.

Each of these features help to prevent crashes caused by passenger vehicles, but what about the thousands of heavy trucks and commercial motor vehicles on the roads every day? Many trucks, even the newest ones, do not have these collision mitigation systems installed despite their proven effectiveness. But accessibility is not the reason why trucks lack these features. It’s actually because some trucking companies do not want to pay to have this equipment installed.

What Are the Benefits of Collision Mitigation Systems?

Collision mitigation systems have been available for nearly 20 years. Studies going as far back as 2003 have found that most people have a 1.52 second brake reaction time, concluding that one second of warning could prevent rear-end crashes. Testing of collision alert systems also began around the same time, including forward collision warning alerts to prevent rear-end accidents. Although today’s collision warning systems have advanced beyond just preventing forward collisions, this technology has been accessible for over 20 years and still is not standard in commercial motor vehicles.

Now, several studies have concluded that active safety systems, which work using video-based technology and radar systems, can greatly improve the safety of truck drivers and those they share the road with. In fact, equipping large commercial vehicles with collision mitigation systems could prevent up to 63,000 truck accidents each year. Moreover, a study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found that when trucks weighing at least 33,000 pounds are equipped with forward collision warning, they were involved in 22% fewer crashes. Trucks equipped with automatic emergency braking (AEB) were in 12% fewer crashes than trucks without either technology. Forward collision warning reduced rear-end crashes by 44% and AEB reduced them by 41%.

Why Aren’t Large Trucks Already Equipped with This Technology?

It is evident that collision mitigation systems do reduce the risk of deadly accidents. However, many commercial motor vehicles, especially heavy trucks, are not equipped with this technology. While some of that can be attributed to the fact that the manufacturers of older truck models did not build these systems into the vehicles, it is possible to install them later. Ultimately, the trucking companies argue that the cost is a major factor in the decision not to add. However, the cost of adding this technology is minimal and the benefit of having the additional technology is huge.

It costs manufacturers around $200 to include these in the new trucks they build. The end cost for the consumer should be under $300, and when purchasing a $200,000 to $300,000 truck, the inclusion of these systems should only add a few hundred dollars. The problem is that the manufacturers often sell trucks with these systems with a markup of over 600%.

In 2017, the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office estimated that the price range for a Truck Collision Avoidance system can be between $2,500 and $4,000 per truck. Trucking companies that put saving money before safety may opt to have the manufacturer delete the safety system to reduce the cost of the truck. This choice puts everyone on the roads at risk.

Starting in 2029, vehicle manufacturers in the United States will be required to make AEB standard in passenger cars and light trucks. This rule does not include heavy trucks, including semi-trucks. There have been proposals to require AEB systems for heavy trucks, but reports of false activations have resulted in delays mandating this. Meanwhile, preventable rear-end crashes caused by driver error continue to happen. AEB systems should be mandatory for all trucks, especially heavy trucks, and efforts should be made to include other collision mitigation systems on semi-trucks. Doing so can save lives.

After the Crash Podcast: A Legal Resource for Truck Wreck Victims

After the Crash is currently ranked No. 4 in personal injury podcasts on FeedSpot. It is the highest-ranked podcast focusing on personal injury resulting from commercial vehicle and truck wrecks.

The podcast was launched over five years ago, in the fall of 2020, by attorney David W. Craig. It educates and empowers listeners in a digestible format. It is primarily aimed at the victims and the families of victims of semi or other large truck accidents.

It is David’s goal to equip listeners with the knowledge necessary to navigate this tough time in their lives. Anyone — truck wreck survivors, legal professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone in between — can tune into After the Crash for free.

A new episode is released monthly, featuring a guest with an important perspective. In each episode, David interviews individuals involved in commercial motor vehicle cases, or experts whose skills are crucial to understanding trucking cases.

Episodes are posted on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon and Apple Podcasts, and the Craig, Kelley & Faultless website.

Get to Know the Guest: A Warrior of Justice

J. Kent Emison is a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which consists of an elite 1% of lawyers in the world. He has taken a case to the U.S. Supreme Court and is a founding partner of Langdon & Emison. For the past 30 years, Emison has practiced law alongside Bob Langdon at Langdon & Emison. The firm is headquartered in Lexington, Missouri, and has offices in Kansas City, St. Louis, Independence and Chicago. The firm has won more than $750 million in verdicts and settlements. The attorneys represent the victims of defective vehicles, trucking accidents, and other serious injury or wrongful death cases.

Watch his appearance on episode 87 of After the Crash on YouTube.

Injured After a Truck Wreck? Craig, Kelley & Faultless Can Help

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless are prepared and have the experience to help victims and their loved ones involved in commercial vehicle wrecks through every aspect of their case. Both attorneys David W. Craig and Scott A. Faultless are board-certified in truck accident law by the NBTA, accredited by the American Bar Association. The firm also has a rapid response team that works with investigators, reconstructionists and mechanics who immediately collect evidence as soon as the firm is hired. Additionally, two of the firm’s litigation paralegals are board-certified in truck accident law by the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. As David has said, “We don’t just handle truck accident cases. We specialize in these cases.”

Their team-centered approach puts client needs at the forefront, and several attorneys will work on your case to achieve the best possible outcome.

Reach out for a free case consultation today at (888) 253-5198 or online.

David W. Craig is board-certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, accredited by the American Bar Association in Truck Accident Law. He sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families and It’s Never Been Easier to Hire the Wrong Attorney, both written to help people navigate what comes next after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.