Your Texas truck accident attorney mentions a new truck rule you may not know about. In 2009, the U.S. NHTSA passed a new rule requiring commercial trucks to reduce truck braking distances by 30%. The rule became effective for new 3-axle trucks this year, and will be effective in another two years for 2-axle and severe service tractors.
Basically, the rule covers the approximately 130,000 new tractor-trailer trucks manufactured each year. The new truck braking distance rule requires that fully loaded tractor-trailer trucks going 60 mph now stop within 250 feet instead of 355 feet. And lightly loaded trucks at 60 mph must stop within 235 feet instead of 335 feet. Severe service tractors are permitted a greater stopping distance.
The NHTSA passed the new truck braking distance rules after an extensive study of traffic fatality data involving commercial trucks. The Texas truck accident attorney presents these alarming statistics: In 2006 alone, 385,000 large trucks crashed. 4,732 of these truck crashes caused 4,995 fatalities. An additional 106,000 people suffered injuries.
Your Texas truck accident attorney reminds you that 12% of all 2006 fatal highway crashes involved large trucks. 75% of the victims injured or killed by these crashes occupied vehicles other than the large trucks. And the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) found that the fatality rate in large truck crashes stood more than 65% higher than that of passenger car crashes.
The NHTSA estimates that commercial truck compliance with the new truck braking distance rules should save more than 200 lives, hundreds of serious injuries, and nearly $170 million in property damage each year.
The NHTSA rejected trucking companies’ objections to the cost of the new rule. The agency pointed out that there were several braking systems already in use that could allow commercial trucks to meet the new truck braking distance requirements. Enhanced drum brakes, air disc brakes, and hybrid disc/drum systems already provide greater braking control in trucks.
This Texas truck accident attorney notes that the NHTSA did accept trucking companies’ arguments with regard to severe service tractors. Data convinced the agency that modifying their brake systems to comply with the new rules affecting other trucks would increase brake locking incidents and loss of stability control.