Feasibility of truck underride protection in New Brunswick

Abstract

Collisions between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles can have serious consequences for the occupants of the passenger vehicles. The passenger vehicles are prone to underriding (going under the heavy truck) heavy trucks due to mismatch in vehicles heights. When underriding occurs, the structure of a heavy truck can intrude into the occupant compartment of a passenger vehicle, resulting in serious or fatal injuries. This senior report reviews existing and proposed underride protection standards in Canada, United States and Great Britain. This senior report will determine i f underride guards are economically feasible in New Brunswick. The benefits of preventing underride injuries by using underride guards will be estimated. The costs to the trucking industry o f purchasing the guards and operating heavy trucks with the guards will also calculated. Comparing the annual benefits to the annual costs will determine if the underride guards are economically feasible here in New Brunswick.