A truck comes with special safety risks. The brakes are generally slower, the blind spots are wider and the stakes of getting in an accident are higher than those of the average driver.
The good news is that there are now emerging technologies that can help truck drivers stay safer on the road.
Equipment
Forward collision warning is a feature that many front crash prevention systems incorporate. With the use of sensors such as radar and cameras, the system scans the road and notifies drivers when a potential issue springs up. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) usually works in tandem with this system, abruptly bringing the truck to a stop when an obstacle is close ahead.
Benefits
In 2020, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) did a study on AEB and forward-collision warning devices to see how much they could reduce truck accidents. AEB lessened crashes by 12% while forward-collision warning lessened crashes by 22%. When it came to rear-end crashes, there was a 41% reduction for AEB and a 44% reduction for forward-collision warning.
Implementation
Luckily, these tools are not obscure or hard to find for truck drivers. According to Consumer Reports, over a dozen major auto companies equipped most of their vehicles with AEB in 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and IIHS arranged a voluntary commitment for automakers to implement this technology for almost all of their vehicles by September 1st, 2022.
While it is still important to focus on the road and take safety measures, built-in systems can make a huge difference. By combining care with state-of-the-art technology, truck drivers can keep accidents and injuries to a minimum.
