Does the Presence of Underride Guards on Trucks Make You Feel Safe? It Shouldn’t.

Most motorists have noticed the underride guards on the backs of tractor-trailers. These guards make them feel safer, knowing that if they happened to slam into the back of the truck, they wouldn't end up underneath it. However, giving drivers a false sense of confidence may be all that these guards are really good for, because more often than not, underride guards on trucks fail.

The idea behind underride guards is a good one, backed with good intentions. But, unfortunately, the guards aren't backed with good, strong reinforcement measures.

These underride guards fail at an alarmingly high rate when they are struck by another vehicle. The speed at which the guards are struck doesn't seem to make much of a difference, as many of them fail when struck at only 35mph.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) discovered the need for better reinforcements when examining the causes of fatal truck crashes. They found that one common factor in most fatal truck accidents was severe underride.

Why Don't Underride Guards Work?
The IIHS testing found that many of the underride guards do not work because they simply aren't reinforced to withstand strong impacts. They may look strong, but when they are struck by a passenger vehicle, they buckle and allow the car to continue underneath the truck.

Although these guards need to be reinforced, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not updated their regulations. Without regulatory force, trucking companies and manufacturers don't have any motivation to put additional money into addressing this dangerous problem.

If someone you know has been injured in a Texas truck accident because of a faulty underride guard, you need to seek experienced legal representation. Contact a Houston truck wreck attorney at Denena & Points to learn more about your rights after suffering injuries in an accident.

Also be sure to order your FREE copy of the leading book on Texas truck accidents, The Roadmap to Texas 18-Wheeler Injury Claims: What You Must Do Now.