New Requirement: Heavy Trucks and Buses to Have Automatic Emergency Braking Equipment
🚛 New Requirement: Heavy Trucks and Buses to Have Automatic Emergency Braking Equipment.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have announced a proposed rule that would require heavy trucks and buses to be equipped with automatic emergency braking systems within the next five years. The agencies estimate that these braking systems could prevent over 19,000 crashes and save 155 lives annually. The technology uses sensors to detect imminent crashes and automatically applies the brakes if the driver has not done so, providing additional assistance to the driver's braking efforts. Ann Carlson, NHTSA's chief counsel, emphasized that the proposed rule has the potential to significantly improve safety and save lives on the nation's roadways. This new requirement follows a recent proposal to mandate automatic emergency braking systems in passenger cars and light trucks.
In a notable Supreme Court ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, it was unanimously decided that truck drivers hauling products like bread are in the transportation sector, not bakery workers.