Underride Guards: What Should We Do If There Really Is a Better Design?

The Department of Transportation has regulations for underride guards on trailers. You know what I mean, that thing we have been talking about: the guard on the back of trailers which is supposed to keep a vehicle from sliding under the truck in the event of a crash.

But, too often, these guards don’t do what they are supposed to do. What if there was a better design/better standards than what is currently required? What should we do about it?

Study these photos for yourself. The top trailer has a different design and, in a crash test, the results were significantly different.

PManac vs competitor crash test photos 001

Photos from IIHS Report: http://www.iihs.org/iihs/sr/statusreport/article/48/2/1

and http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4802.pdf

IMG_4465

May 4, 2013, Karth Crown Victoria rode under the trailer

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