Stop Underrides Act 2.0

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.