IIHS Proves That Side Underride Crashes Are Deadly But Preventable: Seeing Is Believing

On March 30, Jerry and I witnessed a crash test at 35 mph of a car into the side of a trailer — with an AngelWing side guard installed — at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Vehicle Research Center in Ruckersville, Virginia. The guard was successful in stopping the car from riding under the trailer, i.e., passenger occupants would have survived.

The next day, another car was crashed at 35 mph into the side of a trailer — with a side skirt but no side guard. The car went under the trailer. Occupants would not have survived.

See it for yourself because Seeing Is Believing:

This one may be tough to watch:

The IIHS released the news today:

Note this quote from David Zuby, IIHS Chief Research Officer:

“Our tests and research show that side underride guards have the potential to save lives,” says David Zuby, the Institute’s executive vice president and chief research officer. “We think a mandate for side underride guards on large trucks has merit, especially as crash deaths continue to rise on our roads.”

The wheels on a tractor and trailer offer some underride protection if a passenger vehicle were to strike them. With no side underride guard, only 28 percent of a 53-foot trailer’s length would be protected from underride. With the AngelWing side underride guard in place, 62 percent of the trailer’s length would be protected. Side underride guards can be retrofitted to existing semitrailers.

The IIHS also released data from their recent in-depth analysis of NHTSA FARS truck crash fatality information:

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with tractor-trailers, 2005-15

IIHS analysis of NHTSA FARS Data

Year	Passenger vehicle strikes side of tractor-trailer	Passenger vehicle strikes rear of tractor-trailer	All crashes with tractor-trailers
2015	301	292	1,542
2014	308	220	1,409
2013	274	213	1,377
2012	306	216	1,376
2011	246	189	1,362
2010	319	181	1,417
2009	269	174	1,237
2008	290	180	1,526
2007	417	218	1,771
2006	394	260	1,853
2005	441	258	1,932

Per Matt Brumbelow and Eric Teoh, IIHS, May 10, 2017

New IIHS Data on Truck Crash Fatalities, 2005-2015: IIHS, Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with tractor-trailers, 2005-15
NHTSA Truck Underride Fatalities Chart, 1994-2014: Truck Underride Deaths by TYPE 1994-2014
Chart Comparing the Two: Truck underride deaths NHTSA vs IIHS analysis 2005-2014

March 30, 2017, AngelWing Crash Test: Lois Durso, John Lannen, Andy Young, Marianne Karth, Jerry Karth, Martin Fleury, Perry Ponder, Mariella Amoros, Robert Martineau

If this many people were dying from an automotive defect and we knew it and we knew how to fix it, would we stand by and let those deaths continue?! Maybe that is the wrong question to ask because those kinds of deadly defects have been neglected as well. But the point is,

What will we choose to do at this crossroads?

Continue to allow underride deaths?

Act responsibly to prevent these tragedies?

This is not the first time we have witnessed successful prevention of deadly side underride:

Let’s mandate/install comprehensive underride protection — all around all large trucks — now! RAMCUP Draft 9 Comprehensive Underride Protection Act of 2017

One thought on “IIHS Proves That Side Underride Crashes Are Deadly But Preventable: Seeing Is Believing”

One of my best friends son was killed recently after going under the side of a semi trailer here in Florida . My friend is in so much grief ! He is a long time police officer and fdle agent. Please legislators pass law reqirements to add side entry blocks to prevent this . please refuse bribe money ( donations) from trucking organizations to keep you from passing these reqirements .