In order to encourage trucking companies to buy and drive safer trucks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety has created decals to affix to trucks which have installed a stronger rear guard and/or added side guards — thereby meeting safety standards for rear and side underride protection, as spelled out in the STOP Underrides Bill.
In hopes that this recognition of fleet safety leadership will help to prevent the loss of other precious lives, we launched this program on May 4, 2020 –remembering our loss of AnnaLeah and Mary in an underride crash seven years earlier on May 4, 2013.
Jerry attached the first SaferTruck Bono Award to a trailer in the process of being upfitted with a Rear Reinforcement Attachment and a full-length side guard system.
In order to encourage trucking companies to buy and drive safer trucks, AnnaLeah & Mary for Truck Safety has created decals to affix to trucks which have installed a stronger rear guard and/or added side guards — thereby meeting safety standards for rear and side underride protection, as spelled out in the STOP Underrides Bill.
In hopes that this recognition of fleet safety leadership will help to prevent the loss of other precious lives, we are launching this program on May 4, 2020, as we remember our loss of AnnaLeah and Mary in an underride crash seven years ago on May 4, 2013.
The SaferTruck System Bono Award is for trucks on which a stronger rear underride guard has been installed to prevent underride deaths at the rear of trucks. We chose this name in reference to the patron saint, Beuno or Bono (Latin, bonus = good), known for the protection of children — using the image of Mary’s beloved stuffed toy St. Bernard, Gertie.
Statue of Mary’s Gertie at the girls’ gravesiteMary with her beloved Gertie in 2012
The SaferTruck System Christopher Award is for trucks which have had side guards installed to prevent underride deaths at the sides. We chose this name in reference to the patron saint/advocate of travelers, Christopher — keeping in mind AnnaLeah’s love of medieval history and dragons.
Dragon statue at the gravesite
AnnaLeah’s stuffed toy dragonAnnaLeah with her nephewAnnaLeah with her niece and nephew, 2012Mary and her Gertie in a photoshoot by her sister Susanna, circa 2010
With special thanks to Mary & AnnaLeah’s brother, Isaac Karth, who created the designs for these two SaferTruckSystem awards.
Safer Trucks Receive Commemorative Awards for Contribution to Safer Roadsflipbook
Investment in the front end can be extremely minimal in proportion to what could be at risk at the back end.
Then he asked, As a business owner or executive, what keeps you awake at night?
From his perspective, investing in fleet safety is business commonsense. I couldn’t have said it better myself: Investing in underride protection is in the best interest of the trucking industry and an appropriate cost of doing business.
