Government to require electronic stability control in commercial trucks and buses
Photo: American Bus Association
Washington – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently finalized a rule that would require commercial motor vehicles to include electronic stability control systems.
The final rule is expected to prevent up to 49 fatalities, 649 injuries and 1,759 crashes annually, according to NHTSA. It will take effect between 2017 and 2019, depending on the weight category of large trucks and buses.
Electronic stability control systems help prevent rollover crashes that are not caused by hitting an obstacle or leaving the road, NHTSA officials say. Passenger cars and light trucks already are subject to the rule. In 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that the requirement be applied to heavy-duty vehicles.
The Arlington, VA-based American Trucking Associations praised NHTSA’s announcement. The organization said many fleets voluntarily have started using electronic stability control systems, and the impending requirement would accelerate the process and save more lives.
“Ensuring the safety of America’s highways has always been ATA’s highest calling,” ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said in a press release. “And we’ve long known the positive role technology can play in making our vehicles and our roads safer.”