In the first nine months of 2015, there was a 9.3 percent increase in traffic deaths compared with the prior year. According to Consumer Affairs, estimates suggest 26,000 people were killed in collisions over this nine month period, compared with 23,796 deaths in car accidents over the first nine months of 2014. Nationwide, the increase in fatalities ranged anywhere from two percent more deaths in 2015 to 20 percent more deaths in 2015 compared with in 2015. Federal safety regulators indicate driver behavior is the reason why more crashes are happening.
Some safety experts also indicate federal agencies should be doing more, including implementing a nationwide Vision Zero policy aimed at reducing traffic fatalities to zero. One such safety organization is called AnnaLeaha and Mary for Truck Safety. It was founded after two sisters who were killed when their car was hit by a semi-trailer. The family started the organization because they believe the trucker had been behind the wheel for too long and because the family believes that there should have been stricter rules for underride protection in place to prevent the deadly accident.
The focus on improving criteria for underride guards has long been a big issue for advocates concerned about truck accidents in Southern California.
New Safety Initiatives Could Help Prevent Deadly Truck Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed stricter regulations for underride accident prevention in December of 2015. The new regulations would impose new requirements on underride protection guards to be used to prevent cars from sliding under the backs or sides of tractor trailers. While this is good news that regulations are finally being proposed and may move forward, it has taken decades for NHTSA to act, although Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has long warned about the risks and indicated current underride standards were not strict enough.
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