The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report showing that truck cabs designed specifically for the body type of the professional driver can cut down on highway accidents.
Truck drivers suffer more than 16 percent of all transportation fatalities in the United States, according to a 2009 survey.
Proper truck cabin design can impact highway safety by making the road more visible to the driver and making the controls easier to reach. For the driver, increased seat belt comfort means professional drivers will be more likely to use the safety harness and will be safer in the event of an accident.
The CDC report calls on truck companies to consider the diversity of the professional driver workforce as they design new truck cabs. “As the truck manufacturing industry moves forward to design the next generation of truck cabs, there is a pressing need for up-to-date information on the body dimensions of U.S. truck drivers,” the report reads.
Until recently, truck manufacturers had been using truck driver body dimension data from 1980 to help design the drivers’ workspace. The industry has diversified in the 30 years since that data was collected and the CDC hopes manufacturers will consider women and new ethnic groups that have made careers in professional driving.
Researchers with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently completed a four-year study in which they measured more than 30 body dimensions of about 2,000 professional drivers across the country. Not surprisingly, the results showed that the size and shape of the American truck driver has changed significantly in the past 30 years.
NIOSH shared the results of the study with the trucking industry and already three parts suppliers and four truck manufacturers have used the data to improve design. The information is helping to design trucks with easier entry, more comfortable seat belts and better visibility, according to a press release from the CDC.
RAMSIS, a design software company, is updating its product line with the new data to help the entire industry. The Society for Automotive Engineers confirmed that it is updating truck cab standards based on the information gathered in the body dimension study.
All of these changes are positive steps for highway safety. As of 2009, about 1.5 million people were employed as professional drivers of heavy trucks and tractor trailers, according to the CDC. Among those professionals, almost two-thirds complained that the seat belts in their trucks were uncomfortable, according to the study. About a third of all collisions involving trucks happened because of a blind spot in the vehicle. A truck designed for comfort and utility is a safer truck and makes the highway a safer place for the professional driver and others on the road.
Truck drivers who are suffering from serious injuries should consult a skilled truck accident attorney to help get compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and lost wages.
Paul Greenberg is a Chicago truck accident lawyer and Chicago truck accident attorney with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.
