On August 5, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held a virtual Truck Safety Summit to discuss how automatic emergency braking and advanced driver assistance systems can benefit truck fleets. Truck drivers in Texas should be aware that somewhere between 45% and 50% of all large trucks being sold today have AEB, for starters.
Truck fleets must voluntarily install AEB
The reason why nearly half of trucks come with AEB, though, is that the fleets choose to incorporate it. By contrast, AEB and the forward collision warning system that accompanies it are set to become standard on all passenger vehicles by 2022. Experts are thus encouraging more and more truck fleets to consider these devices, pointing to their many safety benefits.
Preventing crashes and reducing their severity
For instance, one transportation company in Arkansas has fitted 98% of its tractors with AEB and FCW and seen 50% fewer rear-end collisions as a result. It also reported that in those cases when an accident does occur, the technology effectively reduces its severity, leading to shorter equipment downtime and lower driver turnover.
With FCW warning drivers about an impending crash and AEB applying the brakes when drivers don’t react in time, it makes sense that crashes will be avoided or at least mitigated. ADAS includes both of these features in addition to things like adaptive cruise control and intelligent headlights.
For those injured by a truck driver
Perhaps the trucking accident you were in could have been prevented if the trucker was using ADAS. Instead, the trucker became negligent through drowsiness or inattention and injured you severely. There’s hope of being compensated for your medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, though. You will be filing a claim against the driver’s trucking company, but you may want a lawyer to assist with every step.
