Today, 02:19 AM
Introduction
Underride protection bars, commonly known as rear impact guards or Mansfield bars, are vital safety features installed on the rear and, in some cases, the sides of heavy equipment and commercial vehicles. Their primary function is to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath during a collision, thereby reducing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities. Despite their importance, these safety devices often fail, leading to tragic accidents and highlighting the need for improved standards and enforcement.
Historical Context
The concept of underride protection gained prominence following the 1967 accident that claimed the life of actress Jayne Mansfield. This incident underscored the dangers of underride collisions, where a passenger vehicle slides beneath a truck, bypassing its safety features and leading to catastrophic outcomes. In response, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) introduced standards in 1953 requiring vehicles with cargo beds 30 inches or more off the ground to have underride guards. However, these standards were limited and exempted many types of commercial vehicles. It wasn't until the 1980s that side underride guards became mandatory in Europe for all trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers. In the U.S., rear underride guards became standard equipment for long-haul trailers, but side underride guards remain optional.
Function and Importance
Underride guards are steel barriers installed on the rear and/or sides of large commercial trucks. They serve to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding beneath the truck in a collision, a phenomenon known as an underride crash. Underride crashes pose a significant risk due to the difference in height between passenger vehicles and large trucks, causing the passenger vehicle’s safety features to be bypassed and leading to severe, often fatal injuries for its occupants.
Design and Materials
Modern underride guards are constructed using high-strength materials to withstand impact forces. For instance, Strenx® 960 steel, with an impressive yield strength at 960 MPa, is used to design components that meet safety specifications while maintaining lightweight and formability. This steel allows for the creation of robust underride guards without adding unnecessary weight to the vehicle.
Testing and Standards
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts crash tests to evaluate the effectiveness of underride guards. These tests assess the guard's ability to prevent compartment intrusion when a passenger vehicle impacts the rear of a trailer. Manufacturers like Stoughton Trailers have developed rear underride guards that meet IIHS testing protocols and comply with applicable U.S. and Canadian regulations. Their design includes integrated supports and robust undercarriage fastenings to enhance strength without compromising aerodynamics or adding weight.
Challenges and Failures
Despite advancements, many underride guards fail to provide adequate protection. Studies have found that most underride guards fail to prevent underride in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear. Factors contributing to these failures include poor design, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient regulation. Underride guards that are corroded, improperly secured, or broken may shatter or disintegrate upon impact, increasing the risk of serious harm to other drivers.
Side Underride Guards
Side underride guards, also known as lateral protective devices (LPDs), are designed to prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists from being swept under a large vehicle’s rear wheels in a side-impact collision. They are typically mounted on the sides of trucks between the axles. These guards act as a physical barrier, deflecting vulnerable road users away from the truck’s rear wheels. While side underride guards are mandatory in Europe, they are not yet required in the United States. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated the rule-making process to establish standards for side underride protection systems for trucks.
Legislative Efforts
In response to the persistent safety concerns, legislative measures like the Stop Underrides Act have been introduced in the U.S. Congress. This Act aims to require underride guards on the sides and front of large trucks, as well as updating current standards for underride guards on the rear of trucks. Advocates argue that improved underride protection can prevent catastrophic injuries and deaths, which are often easily preventable with proper safety measures.
Conclusion
Underride protection bars are crucial components in enhancing road safety by preventing underride collisions. While significant strides have been made in their design and implementation, challenges remain in ensuring their effectiveness. Ongoing efforts in research, legislation, and industry standards are essential to improve the safety of all road users. Continued advocacy for stronger regulations and better enforcement can help achieve the goal of reducing underride-related accidents and saving lives.
Underride protection bars, commonly known as rear impact guards or Mansfield bars, are vital safety features installed on the rear and, in some cases, the sides of heavy equipment and commercial vehicles. Their primary function is to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding underneath during a collision, thereby reducing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities. Despite their importance, these safety devices often fail, leading to tragic accidents and highlighting the need for improved standards and enforcement.
Historical Context
The concept of underride protection gained prominence following the 1967 accident that claimed the life of actress Jayne Mansfield. This incident underscored the dangers of underride collisions, where a passenger vehicle slides beneath a truck, bypassing its safety features and leading to catastrophic outcomes. In response, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) introduced standards in 1953 requiring vehicles with cargo beds 30 inches or more off the ground to have underride guards. However, these standards were limited and exempted many types of commercial vehicles. It wasn't until the 1980s that side underride guards became mandatory in Europe for all trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers. In the U.S., rear underride guards became standard equipment for long-haul trailers, but side underride guards remain optional.
Function and Importance
Underride guards are steel barriers installed on the rear and/or sides of large commercial trucks. They serve to prevent smaller vehicles from sliding beneath the truck in a collision, a phenomenon known as an underride crash. Underride crashes pose a significant risk due to the difference in height between passenger vehicles and large trucks, causing the passenger vehicle’s safety features to be bypassed and leading to severe, often fatal injuries for its occupants.
Design and Materials
Modern underride guards are constructed using high-strength materials to withstand impact forces. For instance, Strenx® 960 steel, with an impressive yield strength at 960 MPa, is used to design components that meet safety specifications while maintaining lightweight and formability. This steel allows for the creation of robust underride guards without adding unnecessary weight to the vehicle.
Testing and Standards
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts crash tests to evaluate the effectiveness of underride guards. These tests assess the guard's ability to prevent compartment intrusion when a passenger vehicle impacts the rear of a trailer. Manufacturers like Stoughton Trailers have developed rear underride guards that meet IIHS testing protocols and comply with applicable U.S. and Canadian regulations. Their design includes integrated supports and robust undercarriage fastenings to enhance strength without compromising aerodynamics or adding weight.
Challenges and Failures
Despite advancements, many underride guards fail to provide adequate protection. Studies have found that most underride guards fail to prevent underride in crashes involving only a small portion of the truck’s rear. Factors contributing to these failures include poor design, inadequate maintenance, and insufficient regulation. Underride guards that are corroded, improperly secured, or broken may shatter or disintegrate upon impact, increasing the risk of serious harm to other drivers.
Side Underride Guards
Side underride guards, also known as lateral protective devices (LPDs), are designed to prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists from being swept under a large vehicle’s rear wheels in a side-impact collision. They are typically mounted on the sides of trucks between the axles. These guards act as a physical barrier, deflecting vulnerable road users away from the truck’s rear wheels. While side underride guards are mandatory in Europe, they are not yet required in the United States. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated the rule-making process to establish standards for side underride protection systems for trucks.
Legislative Efforts
In response to the persistent safety concerns, legislative measures like the Stop Underrides Act have been introduced in the U.S. Congress. This Act aims to require underride guards on the sides and front of large trucks, as well as updating current standards for underride guards on the rear of trucks. Advocates argue that improved underride protection can prevent catastrophic injuries and deaths, which are often easily preventable with proper safety measures.
Conclusion
Underride protection bars are crucial components in enhancing road safety by preventing underride collisions. While significant strides have been made in their design and implementation, challenges remain in ensuring their effectiveness. Ongoing efforts in research, legislation, and industry standards are essential to improve the safety of all road users. Continued advocacy for stronger regulations and better enforcement can help achieve the goal of reducing underride-related accidents and saving lives.
