Thursday, July 30, 2009
NHTSA: Federal air-brake standard to improve stopping distance for trucks
A new federal rule that goes into effect in November will decrease stopping distance requirements for heavy truck tractors, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The final rule (.pdf file), published in the July 27 Federal Register, amends the federal motor vehicle safety standard on air-brake systems. The rule requires new heavy truck tractors to achieve a 30 percent reduction in stopping distance from current levels.
Presently, stopping distance requirements for air-braked buses is 280 feet, while air-braked single unit trucks must stop within 310 feet and air-braked truck tractors must stop within 355 feet.
For heavy truck tractors, the amended standard would require vehicles to stop by no more than 250 feet when loaded to their gross vehicle weight rating and tested at a speed of 60 mph, and within 235 feet when lightly loaded. Some service tractors would have a stopping distance requirement of 310 feet under the same conditions.
NHTSA officials estimate the rule will save 227 lives and prevent 300 serious injuries annually.