If you’ve ever driven along Tamiami Trail or I-75 in Sarasota and found yourself stuck next to a massive semi-truck, you probably noticed how exposed the open space beneath the trailer looks. Many people assume that big rigs have safety barriers on all sides, but they don’t.
After seeing close calls on our crowded roads, it’s natural to wonder why truck side guards are not mandatory on every large truck in the United States.
Understanding why these lifesaving devices are not yet mandatory can help you better understand truck accident risks and how the law handles them.
Contact us today at 941-559-4529 to discuss your case and learn how we can help you.
What Are Truck Side Guards and How Do They Work?
Side guards are safety barriers designed to keep a car, cyclist, or pedestrian from sliding underneath a large truck in a crash. With a guard in place, the person or vehicle strikes a solid barrier instead of being pulled under the truck’s wheels.
There are two main types of side guards used on big rigs:
- Truck side guards. These guards are under the truck cab to fill the space between the front and rear wheels of the truck itself.
- Trailer side guards. These guards are along the trailer, behind the cab, to protect the long, open area under the trailer.
Both types of guards serve the same purpose, but they cover different parts of the truck. Together, they block access to the underside of the vehicle. This reduces the risk of serious injuries during a crash.
A side underride guard is the general name for any system that prevents a smaller vehicle or person from sliding underneath. In other words, truck side guards and trailer side guards are both forms of side underride guards. Underride guards are all designed to keep people out from under the truck during a collision.
Why Aren’t Side Guards Mandatory on Trucks?
Truck side guards can prevent deadly underride crashes. However, they are not yet required on most commercial trucks in the United States. Several factors have slowed down state and national adoption, including:
- Cost concerns. Many trucking companies oppose the implementation of mandatory side guards due to the high cost of purchasing, installing, and maintaining them.
- Industry resistance. The trucking industry has a significant influence on rulemaking discussions and often pushes back against new regulations it believes create financial or operational burdens.
- Lack of federal mandates. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not created a nationwide requirement for side guards, leaving it to individual cities or companies to adopt them voluntarily.
- Weight and design issues. Some truck manufacturers argue that side guards could add weight or interfere with certain trailer designs.
- Slow regulatory process. Even strong safety measures can take years to pass through federal rulemaking.
Each of these factors helps explain why side guards are not yet required on Sarasota roads or across the country.
Where Are Side Guards Already Required?
Cities such as Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C. require side guards on certain municipal trucks. These states have reported reductions in serious injuries involving pedestrians and cyclists.
While the federal government has not yet required truck or trailer side guards, there is some progress on other protections. Federal law already requires most large trailers to have rear underride guards. The NHTSA also recently strengthened those standards through an upgraded federal safety rule.
In 2021, a bipartisan bill called the “Stop Underrides Act” was introduced to Congress. The bill would require side, front, and improved rear underride guards nationwide. The bill went to committee but has not yet passed.
These examples show that underride safety is gaining federal attention, even though side guards are still not mandatory.
How the Lack of Mandatory Side Guards Impacts Victims in Sarasota
Sarasota’s busy roads, seasonal tourism, and high number of pedestrians and cyclists make underride crashes especially dangerous.
Although federal law does not yet require underride guards, their absence can still affect liability in a crash. Trucking companies have a general duty to operate their vehicles safely. If a widely recognized safety measure, like a side underride guard, could have reduced the severity of the crash, failing to use it may be negligent. A lack of side guards does not automatically prove liability, but if a truck accident lawyer can show that reasonably available safety measures would have reduced the severity of the collision, it may support a negligence claim.
Why Sarasota Truck Accident Victims Turn to Greg Linehan Law
If you or a loved one was injured in a truck crash and you have questions about how truck side guards or trailer side guards (or the lack thereof) affected your collision, Greg Linehan Law can help. A serious truck accident injury can upend your entire life emotionally and financially. Our team can advocate on your behalf and fight to get the compensation you deserve.
Greg Linehan Law brings nearly 30 years of experience representing injured people in Sarasota. Greg prepares each case with careful attention. He works with trusted consultants in accident reconstruction and medical evaluation. Greg also communicates directly with clients throughout their case.
Our firm has handled complex truck accident claims involving severe injuries, negligent trucking practices, and safety failures such as missing side guards. We know how to hold big trucking companies accountable.
Call 941-559-GLAW (4529) or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation today.
FAQs
What Are Side Guards on Trucks?
Truck side guards are safety barriers installed along the sides of large trucks or trailers. They help prevent vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians from sliding underneath during a collision.
Do Underride Guards Work?
Yes. A side underride guard can significantly reduce the severity of collisions by keeping smaller vehicles or people from being pulled beneath the truck.
What Are Side Steps on a Truck Called?
Side steps are commonly called running boards or step bars. They help people climb into tall vehicles, but do not serve as safety guards.
What Are the Side Flaps on Semi-Trucks For?
Side flaps are usually splash guards or aerodynamic fairings. They help with debris control and fuel efficiency, not collision protection.
Resources:
H.R.1622, “Stop Underrides Act,” US Congress, link.