Truck drivers in Texas are probably familiar with the safety feature called automatic emergency braking, which can apply the brakes in the face of a collision. One system costs about $500 but can save countless lives. Some safety experts have pushed for mandatory AEB use on commercial vehicles, and a newly proposed bill is advancing the same cause.
On July 16, three congresspeople introduced the Safe Roads Act of 2019, also known as H.R. 3773, in the House of Representatives. If passed, it would require AEB installation for all new commercial motor vehicles and the use of it whenever these vehicles are in operation. The Secretary of Transportation would be the one to establish the standards on installation and use.
The introduction of the bill occurred just as members of the Truck Safety Coalition arrived in Washington, D.C., to push for stricter truck regulations. One of the three congresspeople had attempted to pass a bill similar to the Safe Roads Act back in 2015, but that failed.
The other two congresspeople have introduced a bill called the INSURANCE Act through the instructions of the Truck Safety Coalition, so the safety non-profit is clearly influential. The coalition calls for mandatory AEB use, mandatory speed limiter use and the installation of front and side under-ride guards on trucks.
Those who are injured by a negligent trucker and who are deemed to be 50% or less at fault may have a successful personal injury case on their hands. However, trucking companies have a legal team ready to fight claims on their behalf, so victims may want to consult with a truck accident attorney. An attorney may bring in investigators, medical experts and other professionals to bolster the case. He or she may then handle all negotiations, litigating if a settlement cannot be achieved.