Tag Archives: underride

Kaizen and Underride Protection: A New Industry Approach

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What is the industry’s approach to underride protection? Is it anything like the Japanese attitude of Kaizen? This blogpost caught my attention:

I am reminded of a Japanese word: Kaizen. I read a book once that discussed the difference between the American mindset and the Japanese mindset – explaining that Kaizen is a Japanese word meaning “improvement or change for the better”. Kaizen is defined as a continuous effort by each and every employee… to ensure that there’s continual improvement. The book suggested the American mindset is to build something, work hard at it, step back, admire it, and then move on. The Kaizen mindset is to continue to improve what was built. . . This isn’t about perfectionism. The perfectionist mindset is fixated on what is wrong. The improvement mindset is fixated on what we can make better.

If that was our mindset in the United States, what might we hope to see in underride protection progress? How many more lives might be saved?

What’s New In Underride?

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, ,

There’s nothing new about underride. Despite the fact that it has taken loved ones from us for decades, bringing an end to preventable underride continues to be an uphill battle. We fight on.

Here are some recent instances of underride getting media coverage:

And, by the way, in case you missed it, here are videos from crash testing of collisions between bicyclists and tractor-trailers — conducted by Aaron Kiefer in Raleigh at the North Carolina State Highway Patrol training facility on September 13, 2024. . .

Unguarded (no side guard) VRU Crash Test:

LPD+ Crash Test with Fully-Guarded Trailer:

Here are some posts I’ve written about Lateral Protection Devices+, i.e. side underride guards:

The proof is in the pudding. I rest my case.

Will Victims & Survivor Advocates Be Given a Voice at DOT?

Safety Advocacy, , , , , , ,

Senator Lujan and Congressman Cohen recently re-introduced the DOT Victim & Survivor Advocate Act. Much appreciated. But will Congress and the Department of Transportation respond by establishing this vital position within the Office of the Secretary? Is Secretary Duffy truly dedicated to safety?

Read more here: Luján, Cohen Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Improve Roadway Safety and Uplift Victim Voices at DOT

Certified Letters Alert Carriers of Underride Dangers, Liability & Solutions

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , ,

The fact that truck and trailer designs can potentially allow underride when there are collisions with passenger vehicles has a long history of being misunderstood. With that in mind, on October 12, 2024, we sent letters to two lists of “100 top carriers” in North America via Certified Mail. We wanted their Boards and CEOs to be aware of the September 2024 $462 million verdict in a product liability lawsuit against a trailer manufacturer for failing to install a protective rear guard, leading to two fatalities — indicating that juries will not accept more of these preventable deaths.

“We hope the decision the jurors reached sends a clear message to the trucking and trailer industry and will finally force them to build safer trailers,” CVN noted, quoting plaintiff co-counsel Brian Winebright https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wabash-national-hit-with-462m-verdict-in-trailer-equipment-case

 We also encouraged trucking companies to take steps to protect road users and their bottom line by making sure that their fleets are equipped with Rear Impact Guards (RIGs) which qualify for the IIHS TOUGHGUARD Award and side impact guards that prevent side underride fatalities.

The mailing list for the 200 companies can be found here.

The Carrier Letter Template can be found here. 

A similar Certified Mail Letter went out to carriers in 2020. Relevant information is posted here.

Further details and copies of delivery receipts can be obtained by contacting marianne@annaleahmary.com.

Risky Rigs: Thousands of people have died after their car slid under a tractor-trailer

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , ,

How many underride investigative reports will it take to finally bring about government regulations and industry cooperation to end preventable death by underride? Tampa Bay 10 recently aired the results of their year-long underride investigation.

PART 1 – Risky Rigs: Thousands of people have died after their car slid under a tractor-trailer

PART 2 – Risky Rigs: Thousands of people have died after their car slid under a tractor-trailer

NHTSA’s Neglect of Underride Protection Deserves Congressional Oversight

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , ,

CALL TO ACTION – November 2024

Tell Congress that you want them to exercise their oversight of the federal roadway safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Call the U.S. Congress Switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and ask for each of the following members of the Senate Commerce Committee. Tell them that you want them to hold an Underride Oversight Hearing in the 2024 lame duck session:

  • Senator Maria Cantwell
  • Senator Gary Peters
  • Senator Ted Cruz
  • Senator Todd Young

This video explains why an oversight hearing is vital: NHTSA’s Neglect of Underride Protection Deserves Congressional Oversight.

Please make these phone calls now. Thank you.

Underride Crash Test Videos

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , , ,

If a picture is worth a thousand words, an underride crash test video is worth at least a million. Nothing is more convincing of the fact that underride protection can mean the difference between life and death. Well, nothing except viewing a crash test in person.

To that end, here is a sample of crash test videos which serve to document the technical effectiveness of underride protective devices — more startling when juxtaposed against crash tests with no underride protection or too-weak designs.

The difference a well-designed rear underride guard can make
Benefits of side underride guards for semitrailers
Underride Crash Tests – Unguarded Trailer vs Guarded Trailer
D.C. Underride Crash Test: Left Side Overall Vertical
Crash Test of Rear Reinforcement Attachment

In case you need a reminder, these crash tests are not conducted merely to satisfy curiosity, but in an effort to bring an end to ongoing preventable, unimaginable underride tragedies.

Fleet Managers, Please take note:

Trailer Safety: How to prevent underride crashes and save lives

$462M Jury Verdict Over Rear Impact Guard Design

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, , , , , ,

For over 50 years, NHTSA has failed to require truck trailers to be equipped with underride guards that protect road users from death and injury. The industry has lobbied to keep it that way and tens of thousands of innocent people have lost their lives as a result. This week, a St. Louis jury made a trailer manufacturer pay a just price.

Why would the jury do so? Could it have been because Wabash continued to sell an inadequate rear impact guard as standard equipment — even though they have a safer option available — and because of the industry’s opposition and the government’s abandonment of public safety?

Justice has been served.

MEDIA COVERAGE

In Memory of Darren Hayes (August 30, 2024)

Underride Crash Map, , , ,

A truck driver is dead after an accident on an I-275 exit ramp Friday morning.

Springdale Police said Darren Hayes, 57, got out of his disabled tractor-trailer on the ramp from the eastbound lanes to Springfield Pike at about 10:17 a.m.

Another tractor-trailer came down the ramp, collided with the first truck on the emergency shoulder and knocked Hayes down where he became trapped under the tires of his own truck. . . Driver dies after becoming trapped under tire of his own tractor-trailer on I-275 ramp

Because the bottom of a truck is higher than the bumper of passenger vehicles, when there is a collision the smaller vehicle easily slides under the truck and the first point of impact is the windshield. Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes —front, side, and rear — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries

Darren Hayes, Precious One Gone Too Soon

AMERICA’S DANGEROUS TRUCKS (PBS/Frontline Underride Documentary)

See Underride Crash Memorials posted here and at #STOPunderrides Tweets. To add photos or more information on this story or to add other underride crashes to be remembered, send an email to underridemap@gmail.com. Please use this Interactive Underride Crash Map Crash Location Input Form to provide us with accurate information . (Note: the map is currently not online; but we would keep the information for future updating and to aid in underride advocacy efforts.)

How You Can Help

Support improving Underride Protection on trailers: Contact your legislators with this User-Friendly TAKE ACTION online tool.

Please sign this petition: Secretary Pete, It’s Past Time To End Death By Underride!

Note: In order to raise awareness and preserve the memories of underride victims — precious ones gone too soon — I have been writing memorial posts on what could potentially be underride crashes. I am not a crash reconstructionist, and I do not have all the facts on these crashes; but underride should be investigated as a potential factor in truck crash injuries and deaths.

We are asking that people send us crash reports for collisions with trucks which they suspect involved underride. Send them to marianne@annaleahmary.com. We will submit these as complaints to USDOT. Read more here: Launching a Campaign To Flood NHTSA With Underride Complaint Reports.

In Memory of Fabian Hernandez Rios (September 1, 2024)

Underride Crash Map, , , ,

. . . just after 11:30 a.m., a 2005 Ford Focus driven by 34-year-old Fabian Hernandez Rios of Colby, was traveling eastbound on I-70.

The car crossed the median and struck a 2018 Peterbilt semi driven by a 43-year-old Texas man on the driver’s side. 

The driver and only occupant of the Ford Focus, Hernandez, was pronounced dead at the scene. Kansas man dies in head-on collision on I-70

Because the bottom of a truck is higher than the bumper of passenger vehicles, when there is a collision the smaller vehicle easily slides under the truck and the first point of impact is the windshield. Seatbelts, airbags, and car crumple zones do not function as intended in underride crashes —front, side, and rear — leaving passenger vehicle occupants vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.

Fabian Hernandez Rios, Precious One Gone Too Soon

Major truck manufacturers have Front Underride Protection designs which can work on American trucks.

AMERICA’S DANGEROUS TRUCKS (PBS/Frontline Underride Documentary)

See Underride Crash Memorials posted here and at #STOPunderrides Tweets. To add photos or more information on this story or to add other underride crashes to be remembered, send an email to underridemap@gmail.com. Please use this Interactive Underride Crash Map Crash Location Input Form to provide us with accurate information . (Note: the map is currently not online; but we would keep the information for future updating and to aid in underride advocacy efforts.)

How You Can Help

Support improving Underride Protection on trailers: Contact your legislators with this User-Friendly TAKE ACTION online tool.

Please sign this petition: Secretary Pete, It’s Past Time To End Death By Underride!

Note: In order to raise awareness and preserve the memories of underride victims — precious ones gone too soon — I have been writing memorial posts on what could potentially be underride crashes. I am not a crash reconstructionist, and I do not have all the facts on these crashes; but underride should be investigated as a potential factor in truck crash injuries and deaths.

We are asking that people send us crash reports for collisions with trucks which they suspect involved underride. Send them to marianne@annaleahmary.com. We will submit these as complaints to USDOT. Read more here: Launching a Campaign To Flood NHTSA With Underride Complaint Reports.