Stop Underrides Act 2.0
House Bill Targets Deadly Truck Underride Crashes With Mandatory Side Guards, Could Save Thousands
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill requires the Department of Transportation to create new safety rules for large trucks and trailers. Specifically, it calls for 'side underride guards,' which are metal barriers that prevent smaller cars, cyclists, or pedestrians from sliding underneath the side of a truck during a crash.
- The rules would apply to new trailers and large trucks. The goal is to save lives by making sure that if a car hits the side of a truck at speeds up to 40 miles per hour, the car stays out from under the truck, giving the people inside a much better chance of surviving.
- Over the last 50 years, research shows that more than 30,000 people have died in these types of 'underride' crashes. Safety experts and families of victims have pushed for these changes because many trucks currently lack the physical barriers needed to stop a car from being crushed under the trailer.
- If passed, the government would have 18 months to finish the new rules. Trucking companies would then have two years to make sure their new vehicles meet the safety standards. The guards must also be designed to help with fuel efficiency.
- The bill also sets up a public website to track crash data and share stories from victims' families. It also provides free training for police officers to help them better identify and report when these specific types of accidents happen so the government has more accurate data.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Small trucking companies and owner-operators would face new costs to equip new trailers, semitrailers, and single unit trucks with side underride guards. While the requirement only applies to new vehicles, the added cost of compliant equipment could raise the price of new trucks and trailers, squeezing already tight profit margins for small fleets. The bill does include a fuel-efficiency integration requirement that could partially offset costs over time.
Disabilities
Broader Impacts
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articles
New legislation would mandate side underride guards
Democratic lawmakers introduced the Stop Underrides Act 2.0, requiring side underride guards on all new trailers and large trucks. The bill directs NHTSA to finalize rulemaking to prevent cars from sliding under trucks in crashes up to 40 mph, a move opposed by some trucking associations.
Lawmakers renew push for side underride guards on trucks
The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 (S. 3775 and H.R. 7354) was announced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to improve road safety. Beyond mandating side guards, the bill would restart the DOT's Advisory Committee on Underride Protection and require new studies on front underride incidents.
Underride mandate bill resurfaces
Lawmakers have renewed efforts to mandate side underride guards via the Stop Underrides Act 2.0. While safety groups advocate for the change, the OOIDA remains opposed, citing a NHTSA cost-benefit analysis suggesting the mandate could cost $1.2 billion while saving fewer than 20 lives annually.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Stop Underrides Act 2.0
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
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