New Safety Features for Trucks

Safety is a huge priority for vehicle manufacturers, and every year new safety features are added to cars, trucks, and SUVs. In order to minimize risk, there’s also a big demand for safety features in big trucks. In fact, there have been a number of important safety features added to and made standard on many types of commercial trucks in recent years.

Current and Upcoming Truck Safety Features

A few of the recent safety features that were recently added to big trucks or are scheduled to be installed in the near future include:

Collision avoidance systems

Like the systems available on many passenger vehicles in 2015, crash avoidance systems are optional on certain big trucks and help drivers avoid collisions by automatically applying the brakes when vehicles suddenly stop directly in front of the trucks. However, because of the varying weights of trucks depending on their cargo, this system can’t completely prevent accidents and it’s still up to the drivers to anticipate vehicles stopping in front of them.

Electronic stability control systems

Many trucks are now equipped with electronic stability control systems that keep the trucks from getting out of alignment during accidents or while taking sharp turns. These systems constantly analyze trucks’ speed, tilt, and direction of travel and will automatically apply the brakes and correct the steering to prevent the truck from jackknifing or rolling over.

Front and rear cameras

Because of their size, trucks have multiple blind spots—especially directly in front of their cabins and behind their trailers. Mirrors are helpful for allowing drivers to see some objects behind them, but they still leave “no-zones” that are dangerous for both the truck drivers and other motorists. Cameras are being installed on many new trucks that give drivers a much clearer view of these no-zones, which can prevent accidents on both the highway and in parking lots with many pedestrians while truck drivers make deliveries.

Lane departure warning systems

Although it’s vital for all drivers to stay in their lanes on the highway, it’s even more important for truck drivers to do so, as big trucks are capable of forcing smaller vehicles off the road in an instant. Lane departure warning systems are new features on trucks that use cameras to alert drivers when their vehicles are beginning to drift into other lanes when their turn signals aren’t activated. Not only does this prevent drivers from inadvertently drifting into other vehicles, but it also forces them to use their turn signals when changing lanes.

Automated driving on highways and interstates

Self-driving vehicles were once thought of as something out of science fiction, but these technological marvels are already in development and many have driven across the country multiple times without human intervention. Although it’s still likely several years off, many truck manufacturers have expressed interest in adding the same automated systems that allow passenger vehicles to drive themselves on interstates and highways to commercial trucks. These systems can be overridden at any point and typically only work on long stretches of flat road, making them ideal for the trucking industry.

The Smyrna truck accident attorneys at Matt Hardin Law welcome all advances in safety features for both cars and trucks. Our legal team has helped countless victims whose lives were saved and whose injuries were made much less severe due to the presence of modern safety features like anti-lock brakes, airbags, and accident warning systems.

But despite all of the progress in safety features, truck drivers still have a responsibility to practice safe driving to protect themselves and other motorists. If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident caused by a truck driver’s negligence, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. Get in touch with our staff by dialing fill out a free online form to speak with us today.