NHTSA Takes Steps to Prevent Truck and Bus Rollover Crashes

June 09, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Rollover crashes are some of the most dangerous types of motor vehicle accidents. While the risk of serious injury or death is always present in a rollover accident, it is even greater in crashes involving large vehicles like buses and commercial trucks. In May 2012, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration took an important first step toward preventing these accidents from occurring. It issued a new proposal to require electronic stability control systems in all new trucks and buses. The systems have been mandatory in new passenger vehicles since the 2012 model year. Electronic stability control systems work by sensing situations that might cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, like swerving or skidding on slippery roads. They then selectively apply brake pressure to individual wheels to help the vehicle regain stability. Electronic stability control systems are sophisticated enough to counteract common driver errors including overcorrecting or under-steering. Stability Control Systems Save Lives A lot of New Jersey residents, like many people on the Eastern Seaboard, rely on commercial motorcoaches as a cost-efficient way to travel between cities. Imagine what could happen if a driver lost control, sending the bus rolling down an embankment. Dozens of lives could be lost or irreparably damaged. Or, picture a tanker truck carrying hazardous or flammable materials. If it crashed and spilled its load, whole neighborhoods could be put at risk. Sadly, accidents like this are not just hypothetical situations -- they happen much more frequently than they should. But, crash rates would certainly drop if electronic stability controls were required. According to NHTSA officials, installing stability control systems would prevent up to 2,300 crashes, 850 injuries and 60 deaths every year. New Jersey Commercial Vehicle Crashes If implemented, the NHTSA's proposed regulations would go a long way toward making New Jersey's roads safer for all motorists. However, accidents will still be an unfortunate fact of life. New Jersey residents who are injured in a crash caused by the negligence of a commercial vehicle driver have the right to seek compensation for their injuries. If you have been injured in a truck or bus crash, talk to an experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney who can help you understand your options. Article provided by Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow & McElroy, LLP Visit us at www.eichenlevinson.com --- Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com