NHTSA Examines Role of Antilock Brake Systems in Reducing Truck Accidents

When commercial trucks collide with passenger vehicles, the consequences can be disastrous. The sheer magnitude of heavy trucks makes them a serious threat to other vehicles in the event of an accident.According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,380 people were killed in 2009 as a result of collisions with large trucks. In 2008, one out of nine traffic fatalities was the result of a truck accident.Partially because of the dangers that trucks can pose, the federal government strictly regulates heavy trucks used in interstate commerce. For example, the federal government has required that all air-braked semi-trailers, single-unit trucks and tractors manufactured since 1998 have Antilock Braking Systems (ABS). These systems use sensors that monitor the rotational speed of wheels while braking; if a wheel seems to be locking, the braking system decreases the pressure on that wheel to allow it to spin. In theory this results in increased control of the vehicle.However, until recently, there was little clear evidence that this requirement actually reduced the frequency of truck accidents. Although it was widely assumed that ABS would increase a truck driver’s control over the vehicle and therefore reduce collisions, no comprehensive study had investigated the true effects.Data Indicates A Three Percent Reduction in Truck Accidents To evaluate the effectiveness of ABS, the NHTSA reviewed data from 7 states, collected over a ten year time period. The researchers relied on data from the NHTSA’s State Data System and Fatality Analysis Reporting System.Published in July 2010, the study revealed that mandating ABS in Heavy Truck Tractors has decreased truck accidents by about three percent. In those accidentswhere ABS had the potential to be influential, the data indicates that such systems reduced crashes by six percent.In addition to reducing the overall frequency of collisions caused by truck drivers, ABS reduced jack-knife accidents and off-road overturns. Unfortunately, the researchers did not find any statistically significant reduction in the number of fatal truck accidents as a result of ABS.The Limitations of the StudyThe results were delivered with some noted limitations. Because the study was simply examining existing data, researchers made assumptions about whether or not a particular vehicle had ABS based upon the truck’s manufacturing date.They assumed that any vehicle manufactured before ABS technology was mandated did not have it, and that the ABS technology was functioning properly in all trucks that would be expected to have ABS. In reality, some vehicles may have had ABS before it was required, and it might have malfunctioned in any particular accident.The study failed to consider any other technological improvements that may have been included on trucks of later manufacture dates. Newer trucks generally incorporate newer technologies, and it is possible that other improvements also contributed to the reduction in accidents. The researchers also noted that the data they used may not be entirely accurate.The study also relied on data from seven states, rather than examining truck accidents nationwide. Although presumably the trends are similar across the country, it is possible that researchers would have found different results if they’d selected different states. Conditions leading to motor vehicle accidents in Dallas, Texas are not necessarily identical to those in Muncie, Indiana — but the study did not address regional variations.Although 3 percent may seem like a relatively insignificant reduction, truck accidents can have serious, life-altering consequences. Any reduction in the frequency of accidents helps to improve the safety of the roads and reduce the number of people affected by these collisions.If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, you should not have to face the consequences alone. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help to ensure that your interests are protected. Contact a lawyer to discuss your potential legal claims.