Large trucks can be deadly in crashes with smaller vehicles. One major risk is underride accidents, where a car slides under a truck’s trailer. These crashes often cause severe injuries or death. Underride guards are metal barriers designed to reduce this risk, but they have limitations.
The purpose of underride guards
Underride guards are steel bars attached to the back and sometimes the sides of trailers. Their purpose is to block smaller vehicles from going underneath a truck in a crash. Rear underride guards have been a requirement on most large trucks for years, but side guards are not yet mandatory in the U.S. Properly designed and installed guards can save lives by preventing cars from sliding under trailers.
The limits of underride guards in accidents
Underride guards can reduce the risk of severe injuries, but they do not prevent all dangers. In high-speed crashes, guards may bend or break, failing to stop a car from going underneath. Some trailers have weak or poorly maintained guards, making them less effective. Plus, since many trucks do not have side underride guards, cars are more vulnerable during side-impact crashes.
In some cases, underride guards might cause or worsen injuries. If a car hits a guard at an angle, it may spin out of control, leading to additional collisions. A weak guard could break apart, sending metal debris into the roadway.
If a guard is too high or too far back, it may not engage with a car’s front end properly, failing to absorb the force of the crash. In these cases, the guard provides little to no protection, and passengers in the smaller vehicle face a high risk of head or upper body injuries.
Underride guards offer some protection, but they are not perfect. Stronger designs and more widespread use could improve safety. Drivers should stay alert around large trucks and avoid situations where an underride crash could happen. If a collision does occur, motorists can investigate all causes of injuries and hold the liable parties responsible for damages.