Why to Invest in Truck Safety Technology

Today’s truck safety technology could prevent a lot of devastating truck accidents each year, but many trucking companies are slow to adopt these innovations, due to cost concerns.

However, a new study suggests that the costs that result from truck accidents are far more than the expenses companies would take on by installing life-saving truck safety technology.

According to a 2017 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, installing certain types of safety technology in trucks may reduce the number of truck accidents by as much as 13 percent (about 63,000 truck crashes every year).

The safety systems recommended by AAA researchers are:

Collision Mitigation Technology

The latest versions of this technology use a camera on the front of the truck as well as radar. The two technologies work together and provide more active brake assistance and warnings, such as lane departure and blind spot detection.

The lane departure warning system is designed to warn the driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane and can prevent up to 6372 crashes each year alone.

Automatic emergency braking systems

This technology can detect if the truck is in danger of collision with the vehicle in front of it and brake automatically if needed. AAA states that emergency braking systems can prevent up to 5,294 crashes, 2,753 injuries and 55 deaths per year.

Air Disc Brakes

Air disk brakes are better than the traditional drum brakes and can significantly reduce the distance a large truck needs to stop. AAA states that air disk brakes can prevent up to 2411 crashes every year.

Video-based safety monitoring systems

Designed to monitor and improve the driving behavior of truck drivers. This system can identify and reduce risky driving behavior, such as speeding, distracted driving or drowsy driving. Also, the safety monitoring systems can help evaluating a truck accident.

Electronic Stability Control

Rollovers are responsible for over 300 fatalities each year. This technology is designed to minimize them. If the systems detect a vehicle is reaching its critical stability threshold, the technology can automatically reduces engine torque, applies the engine brake and activates the necessary wheel-end brakes, which reduces the likelihood of a rollover, jackknife or loss of control.

You can see that truck safety technology can be a good investment. These technology add-ons can cost a few thousand dollars per vehicle while an average tractor-trailer accident creates costs around $380,000. Not to mention that a fatal accident can cost millions.

Do not forget about the insurance premiums. More accidents can result in higher costs for commercial truck insurance. With the uprising costs for managing a truck fleet investing in safety tech seams reasonable.

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