Pennsylvania roadways don’t seem to be getting safer despite improved technology. This is according to a Road Safe America report released on Jan. 29. The group analyzed crash data for 2009-2017 and found that 44 out of 50 states saw an increase in big truck crashes. Pennsylvania had one of the highest truck crash fatality rates.
Road Safe America is a non-profit group concerned with highway safety. A representative of the group said that many of the deaths that occurred in the period studied could have been prevented. This is because automatic emergency braking and speed limiting technologies exist that could prevent or reduce the severity of crashes. Unfortunately, the technology is not required by law.
In many of the states with a high rate of big rig accidents, the speed limits for these large trucks are around 70 mph. Big rigs can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, so safety proponents question the necessity for these vehicles to travel at such high speeds when they do not have the same ability to make quick stops that other vehicles on the road possess.
Making speed limiting technology available in the trucking industry is not a problem. In fact, the devices are already built into the trucks. There have been some proposed new rules for the trucking industry, and voter support seems to suggest that most people can agree on highway safety. Despite this, little progress has been made.
When truck accidents occur, those who are injured could seek compensation from a truck driver or trucking company. This may help one pay for hospital bills and other expenses incurred because of a crash. One can seek compensation when a driver or company acted recklessly or did not use a reasonable standard of care to prevent a wreck.