Crash Prevention Technology & Large Trucks in New York

Large truck crashes are dangerous and often deadly. Because other cars hit by a tractor trailer have little chance, the best way to prevent large truck accident-related deaths is to prevent crashes in the first place. New crash prevention technology designed for large trucks is aiming to do just that.

Large trucks are involved in about 384,000 crashes every year. About 4,100 of these are fatal for one of the parties involved in the accident. Large trucks are involved in more fatal crashes than any other type of vehicle per unit of travel, a standard of measurement that accounts for all the time big trucks spend on the road.

New advanced crash prevention technology has the potential to reduce these numbers. A recent analysis of four crash prevention technologies found that these features, if installed in every rig, could prevent one out of every four truck crashes we see today. They could also prevent or mitigate one out of every five fatal truck crashes.

The four crash prevention technology features that have the greatest potential for preventing large truck crashes are:

1. Side view assist
Many crashes involving large trucks are caused by lack of vision, causing truckers to hit cars in their 'blind spot.' Side view assist technology, which uses cameras or radar to give truck drivers better visibility on the sides of their trucks, helps prevent this type of accident.
2. Lane departure
Many large truck crashes are caused when drivers become drowsy and drift out of their lanes or into oncoming traffic. Lane departure technology, which uses sensors to determine the placement of a truck alerts drivers when they are drifting out of their lane.
3. Stability control
Many of the worst large truck accidents involve a truck jackknifing or rolling over into other cars. Advanced stability control, which automatically stabilizes and steers a truck that is sliding laterally, can prevent or mitigate many large truck rollovers and the injuries that result from them.
4. Forward collision warning
Using a detection system that can anticipate possible collisions before they happen, these warning systems can help prevent or mitigate impending accidents. Some systems merely warn the driver of an oncoming wreck, while others automatically steer or brake to prevent it.

The advances in crash prevention technology in large trucks are another positive example of the improvements that are being made in driving safety. As Manhattan auto accident attorneys, we see many wrecks involving large trucks, and we fully support anything that can be done to prevent or mitigate these serious accidents.

If you have questions about large truck accidents, or you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a large truck, call a Manhattan auto accident attorney at Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine. We have years of experience representing New Yorkers in car accident and personal injury cases.