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Truckmakers Seek More Lenient Stability Control Rules
Truckmakers are lobbying for a more flexible U.S. electronic stability control standard for commercial vehicles, Bloomberg News reports.
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Truckmakers are lobbying for a more flexible U.S. electronic stability control standard for commercial vehicles, Bloomberg News reports.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposes to require ESC systems like those used in cars, SUVs and light-duty trucks. Truckmakers want a looser standard that also would permit cheaper roll stability systems.
The companies complain that NHTSA's proposal would force their vehicles to comply with carlike test maneuvers unlikely to occur with big highway trucks. Certification would be costly and difficult because of the wide variation in wheelbases and axle configurations, truckmakers say. They also note that there is only one U.S. test facility large enough to conduct the necessary evaluations.
NHTSA estimates its ESC standard would cost about $1,200 per truck, prevent about 2,300 crashes per year and save 49-60 lives annually. The agency wants to begin phasing in the rules two years from now.
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