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| Top, the US system outperforms the European system, underneath. |
A study by Euro NCAP and UK safety organisations reveals that rear impact guards on trucks and trailers in Europe are inadequate, leading to hundreds of road deaths annually, writes Brian Byrne. The study highlights a double failure in road safety: older ADAS sensors fail to detect trailers, and rear safety guards fail to prevent cars from sliding beneath them.
Euro NCAP is urging EU and UK legislators to implement changes to R58.03 legislation to match the US IIHS TOUGHGUARD standard and for trailer manufacturers to introduce upgrades and retrofit solutions.
The investigation analysed collision data, focusing on trailer rear underrun impacts. This crash type potentially causes around 400 fatalities annually in the EU and UK.
Test vehicles detected threats consistently against standard laboratory GVTs but struggled with real HGV rear-ends and impact protection vehicles used in roadworks, highlighting a gap between current and older ADAS systems. With the average car age rising, it will take over 15 years for most cars to avoid stationary trailers, underscoring the need for improved crash protection now.
Tests of two commonly used trailers with regulated rear underrun protection systems resulted in severe outcomes, showing the car’s crash structure couldn’t protect occupants due to poor impact resistance.
Since 2017, 70% of the latest US trailers have IIHS TOUGHGUARD-rated devices. Euro NCAP urges EU and UK legislators to update R58.03 legislation to match the US standard and calls on trailer manufacturers to offer voluntary upgrades and retrofit solutions for existing fleets. They also encourage truck fleet operators to request retrofit solutions to replace inadequate legacy guards on EU and UK roads.
Testing was carried out in laboratories across the UK, Germany, and the US. Supporting organisations are Germany’s ADAC, Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US.
