Canadian study does not support use of side guards on trucks

In earlier posts we have written about pedestrian accidents and the devastating injuries they can inflict upon a person who is struck by a car or truck. One post, which focused on issues that if addressed might reduce the number of such accidents that occur, provided a tip geared specifically at heavy trucks. It was suggested that making side guards on trucks mandatory, could keep both pedestrians, as well as bicyclists, safe from falling under the wheels of a truck, where they could be crushed.

Made of steel, side guards are generally positioned between the front and back wheel. While the use of side guards is mandatory in some countries, following the receipt of a report it commissioned, the Canadian government reached the conclusion that they will not follow suit. Specifically, the National Research report determined that used alone, serious injuries will not be eliminated by the use of side guards.

Though the report did acknowledge that the number of serious injuries and deaths, due to pedestrian or bicyclist collisions with heavy vehicles in Europe, had dropped in conjunction with the use of side guards, it could not find any studies on that continent that demonstrated conclusively that the reduction was due to the use of side guards, which could be expensive to install. Though the study did not address this specifically, other factors that may have contributed to the reduction of such accidents include additional dedicated pedestrian and bike paths as well as better road infrastructure.

When pedestrian or bicycle accidents involving heavy trucks do occur, it can be difficult to know to what you may be entitled. If you, a friend or a family member are victims of someone’s negligence and suffering from injuries and losses, contact us to speak to one of our lawyers to know your rights and what steps you should be taking in order to protect your rights for the future.