Great Dane Improving Rear Impact Guards

Commercial trucks are required to have a number of safety features, but that doesn’t mean that those features can’t fail to do their jobs. Truck crashes and collisions can be really dangerous no matter where they occur, but they’re especially dangerous on the streets of big, busy cities such as Chicago. Whether tractor-trailers are rumbling down I-90 and I-94 or jostling through the city itself on their way to pick up or drop off goods, one wrong move can lead to serious injuries. To combat these dangers, innovative transportation company Great Dane is making improvements on its rear impact guards.

CCJ News reports that “Great Dane will make the improved bolt-on rear impact guard as standard equipment on all of its trailer models beginning later this year, and will offer a retrofit option on 2007 and later models.” The new guards passed all three impact tests.

What is a rear impact guard?

Like its name suggests, a rear impact guard is a device placed close to or outright on the truck’s rear end; when a car collides with a truck’s rear impact guard, the rear impact guard narrows the space between the car and the truck, which keeps the car from literally sliding underneath the truck. This is supposed to keep people from sustaining life-altering injuries from being crushed, and cut down on the number of people who are killed in truck accidents each year.

Why is Great Dane improving its rear impact guards?

The truth is, most underride guards aren’t that effective at high speeds. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has tested a number of different types of underride guards, and found that most of the older ones don’t pass muster. Even guards that fulfilled the federal standard don’t always work.

Great Dane improving its rear impact guards isn’t your typical party line, as there is no incentive for it to make the changes. They’re doing it because safety matters to them. These changes led to the IIHS to give Great Dane the TOUGHGUARD award for their new guards – very good news for the company, and even better news for us.

Truck accidents are a challenge; finding the right attorney to protect you doesn’t need to be. At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we help victims of truck crashes throughout Chicagoland. If you or your loved one was hurt because of a defective underride, a distracted driver, or for any reason, please call our experienced Chicago truck drivers at 312-600-9585, or fill out our contact form