Semi trucks are the largest (and most dangerous) vehicles on the road, so safety measures are commonly adjusted as new research suggests ways to make the public safer. According to a new study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – IIHS for short – trailer underride guards will have the next major safety-standard adjustment for commercial trucks, as researchers found that most as currently designed are unsafe for the important purpose they are intended – saving lives.
Legal loopholes in state laws are big enough for bus company owners to drive unsafe, unapproved buses right through them. A recent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that bus companies are using vehicles that don’t meet federal safety standards thereby endangering passengers and motorists.The investigation followed a fatal crash two years ago of a Capricorn Bus Lines motor coach on its way to Houston, Tex. from Monterrey, Mexico. The bus rolled over after its driver fell asleep eight hours into the 10-hour trip, killing one passenger and injuring all 46 other passengers on-board.
