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Onboard safety systems prevent truck accidents, says AAA

On Behalf of | Nov 20, 2017 | Truck Accidents |

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has released a study saying that safety technology can help prevent 63,000 commercial truck accidents every year. It analyzed the benefits as compared to the cost of four technologies in particular, which were automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning systems, video-based onboard safety monitoring systems and air disc brakes. Drivers in West Virginia will likely feel more at ease when trucks are equipped with such devices. In fact, a AAA companion survey showed that one in four adults share this opinion.

The researchers came to several conclusions. Video-based monitoring systems are by far the most effective safety measure. They could prevent up to 63,000 crashes, 17,733 injuries and 293 deaths each year. Video systems also could prevent between 61 and 80 percent of crashes.

Lane departure warning systems may be able to prevent over 6,300 crashes while emergency braking could prevent more than 5,200 accidents. Air disc brakes also could play a part in preventing more than 2,400 crashes. A total of 500 deaths could be avoided annually if all four devices were implemented.

This data was produced with the help of a study advisory panel made up of representatives from different areas of the trucking industry, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Researchers also studied the crash rates among truckers between the years 2010 and 2015.

Sometimes even the most up-to-date safety devices cannot compensate for driver negligence. Truck accidents can happen due to truckers’ drowsiness and even recklessness as some are encouraged to rush to make a delivery on time. In such cases, the victim will want to see a lawyer about filing an injury claim. If the lawyer’s investigators find out there was a defective truck part, the victim will most likely file a product liability claim. An attorney will speak on his or her client’s behalf in court.