In general, truck drivers understand the critical role that safety plays in their jobs. From their pre-trip inspections to their Hours of Service, truck drivers are consistent about following rules and regulations for maximum safety of themselves and others.

But nobody’s perfect. Hardworking truck drivers can get tired or distracted, and an automated system that can prevent a potential accident could save lives.

Automatic Emergency Braking

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) want to implement these automated systems. Specifically, the regulators want to require automatic emergency braking (AEB) and electronic stability control (ESC) systems.

A new proposal would require Class 7 and Class 8 trucks (over 26,000 lbs) to implement automatic braking within three years. Other trucks weighing over 10,000 lbs would be gradually required to include these systems within four years.

This new proposal is mandated by the Infrastructure Law that was signed in 2021, and it has long been a desire for those who focus on safety in trucking.

According to research done by the two regulatory bodies, automatic braking systems would:

• Prevent almost 19,120 crashes per year

• Save 155 lives per year

• Prevent 8,814 injuries per year

Dan Horvath, the VP of safety policy at the American Trucking Associations, commented that the industry supports “proven safety technology” like automatic emergency braking. He said that the ATA looks forward to reviewing the proposal.

The Owner-Operators Independent Driver Association (OOIDA), on the other hand, opposes the measure. Their cited reason is that the technology has not been “perfected,” although the organization regularly opposes any mandates that would increase the price of trucks for owner-operators.