NHTSA's Backup Rule Would Restrict Technology
There are more ways than two of reducing truck backup accidents.
So now the feds want a regulation to require a "rear object detection system" on trucks, as reported in our October Washington Report. It's aimed at reducing deaths and injuries to people (they're among the "objects") who are hit by trucks backing up.
For the present, it's only proposed for new straight trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says this category of medium straight trucks has the worst backing up incident rate of all classes of cars and trucks; an estimated 79 deaths and 148 injuries per year.
NHTSA says the fatality rate in backup accidents per million vehicles stacks up this way: Medium straight trucks, 30 fatalities; combination trucks (tractor-trailers, we presume), 10; light trucks, 2; automobiles, 1.
In its notice of proposed rulemaking, the agency presents two options for truck manufacturers to meet the standard:
• A convex mirror mounted on the upper rear corner of the driver's side, to be used in conjunction with the standard rear-view mirror.
• A video system with an in-cab monitor to show the driver what's behind the truck as it backs up.
Rear object detection systems are currently in use on buses and in some trucking operations (FedEx Corp., for one). The feds not only want them on the above-mentioned new straight trucks, they're hinting at a push to retrofit the whole existing medium truck fleet, and maybe even apply the regulation to other weight classes.
We already have audio backup alarms on many, if not most, medium straight trucks. Not good enough, the critics say, because (a) children, who are the most frequent victims of backing accidents, may not know what the warning means, (b) hearing impaired and old people may be slow to get out of the way, (c) the driver might turn the alarm off and forget to turn it back on, and (d) the noise irritates people in residential areas.
NHTSA says the convex mirror will cost $80 ($160 if two are used). And $200 has been mentioned as the cost of the video system, but even NHTSA admits that's probably low. Those cost estimates don't include maintenance over the life of the product, and at least in the case of mirrors, they can add up big-time.
Better backup systems for truck drivers is a noble idea. What's bothersome is that the regulation would restrict truck operators to only two. FedEx currently uses a sonar system, but NHTSA says it has studied-and rejected-sonar and infrared devices.
Is NHTSA's research better than the research done by FedEx? That would be a major surprise. And if NHTSA has its way, would the rule force FedEx to remove its sonar?
Remember the history lesson when, early in this country's development, a congressman proposed shutting down the U.S. Patent Office? His reasoning: Everything that could be invented had already been invented.
Apparently NHTSA thinks that every device that could prevent backing accidents has already been invented.
No way. If we're going to regulate backup systems, it ought to be a performance standard that leaves the door open for other technologies. As proposed, this one slams that door.
Doug Condra
President
E-mail Doug Condra at dcondra@truckinginfo.com, or write PO Box W. Newport Beach, Calif. 92656.
