Side underride guards are required on every truck in Bali to protect Vulnerable Road Users from the “kill zone”. Shockingly @usdot.bsky.social has rejected to support any regs that could save hundreds of lives every year. It’s time to #STOPunderrides

@transportdems.bsky.social @commerce.senate.gov

For decades NHTSA and @usdot.bsky.social has known FARS underride data is underreported & biased low. GAO found States were not required to report underride data. Nearly 2 years ago, I petitioned for a simple fix and NHTSA failed to even respond. Intentional or negligence?
@commerce.senate.gov

Throw back because Oversight is needed!

Walking the halls of Congress telling the story of my son Riley’s death in a side underride crash. A simple fix for NHTSA to mandate side guards and save lives, but the Agency is captured by the trucking industry.

For 50 years the trucking industry has objected to 500 lb side underride guards on semitrailers citing the 80,000 lb weight limit, yet semis regularly carry:

*15,000 lb sleeper cab

*500 lb grill guard

*500 lb winter tire chains carried all year

Why isn’t weight a problem for any of these items?

@petebuttigieg89.bsky.social “If the evidence gathered by the agency [NHTSA] indicates that side underride rulemaking could contribute significantly to safety, the agency will commence rulemaking" Federal Register 1979

Since then, ~9,000 people have died because semis lack side underride guards!