{"id":86190,"date":"2024-07-02T12:53:11","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/landline.media\/?p=86190"},"modified":"2024-07-02T12:53:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:53:11","slug":"nhtsa-denies-petition-on-rear-impact-guard-final-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/landline.media\/nhtsa-denies-petition-on-rear-impact-guard-final-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"NHTSA denies petition on rear-impact guard final rule"},"content":{"rendered":"
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has denied a petition from trucking safety groups to reconsider a 2022 final rule aimed at improving rear-impact guards on trailers and semitrailers.<\/p>\n
NHTSA announced the denial in a notice<\/a> published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, June 26.<\/p>\n In 2022, the agency issued a final rule<\/a> to require that the rear-impact guards on trailers and semitrailers possess sufficient strength and energy absorption to protect occupants and passenger vehicles in multiple crash scenarios. The rule required the guards to be able to withstand an impact of 35 mph. In addition, the standards provided upgraded protection for crashes in which 50% of the width of the passenger motor vehicle overlaps the rear of the trailer or semitrailer.<\/p>\n However, several trucking safety groups argued that the rule did not go far enough to protect passenger vehicles from rear underride crashes.<\/p>\n In August 2022, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Truck Safety Coalition, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, and Parents Against Tired Truckers filed a petition for reconsideration. The petitioners disagreed with NHTSA\u2019s data and analysis used to make the final rule and asserted that the agency should require reinforced rear guards designed for a 30% overlap crash condition.<\/p>\n As part of the petition, the safety groups argued that NHTSA created its final rule without considering all of the available data on underride crashes.<\/p>\n NHTSA said that the safety groups\u2019 arguments about underreporting and \u201cfaulty\u201d data were already addressed during the rulemaking process.<\/p>\n \u201cThe petitioners raised substantially similar points in comments they submitted during the rulemaking process,\u201d the agency wrote in the notice. \u201cNHTSA carefully reviewed all information submitted by the petitioners and commenters throughout the rulemaking process to inform the final rule. The agency gave full consideration to the comments submitted in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking, including those regarding underride crash data and underreporting.\u201d<\/p>\n The safety groups argued that NHTSA failed to follow a provision in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act regarding the overlap percentage.<\/p>\n NHTSA said the provision required the agency to adopt a standard for the 30% overlap condition if it met the Safety Act\u2019s requirements and considerations.<\/p>\n The agency said the standard \u201cwould not be reasonable or practicable.\u201d<\/p>\n The Truck Safety Coalition responded to the denial by calling it \u201ctone deaf.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\nNHTSA Denial<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Underride committee<\/strong><\/h2>\n