NHTSA Announces Rulemaking on Rear Impact Guards

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it plans to initiate a rulemaking on standards for rear impact guards on trucks.

“NHTSA is planning on issuing two separate notices — an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to rear impact guards and other safety strategies for single unit trucks, and a notice of proposed rulemaking focusing on rear impact guards on trailers and semitrailers,” the agency said in its July 10 Federal Register notice.

The agency said it decided to launch the rulemaking after petitions from the Truck Safety Coalition.

“NHTSA is still evaluating the petitioners’ request to improve side guards and front override guards and will issue a separate decision on those aspects of the petition at a later date,” the agency said.