January 26, 2015:

Listen to Volpe engineer Alex Epstein describe how the implementation of side guards is becoming  more accepted as a safety feature on large trucks.

http://www.volpe.dot.gov/news/side-guards-save-lives-success-story

Note: From the Federal Register on 7/10/14, in response to the AnnaLeah & Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety Petition: 

“By initiating rulemaking to consider enhancing related safety standards, this notice grants the part of the petition for rulemaking submitted by Ms. Marianne Karth and the Truck Safety Coalition (Petitioners) requesting that the agency improve the safety of rear impact (underride) guards on trailers and single unit trucks . . . NHTSA is still evaluating the Petitioners’ request to improve side guards and front override guards and will issue a separate decision on those aspects of the petition at a later date.”

https://www.federalregister.gov/…/federal-motor-vehicle…

If you watch the video in the Volpe link above, note Epstein’s comment at the end about NHTSA and “a statement we heard this summer that they might consider side guards.”

(Photo of a truck on 64 West toward Raleigh, Susanna Karth)