Stop Underrides Act 2.0

New underride rules and studies

If enacted, the bill would require DOT to write a rule within 18 months that mandates side underride guards on new trailers, semitrailers, and single-unit trucks. The guards would have to prevent intrusion into passenger survival space in perpendicular impacts up to 40 miles per hour, block Vulnerable Road Users from passing underneath, and contribute to fuel savings through aerodynamic design. The final rule would have to require full compliance within 2 years after the rule is finalized and be reviewed at least every 5 years. The bill would also order several studies and reporting actions: GAO must study rear-guard implementation within 1 year (report due within 180 days after the study), DOT must seek a National Academies study of front-of-truck crashes within 1 year (report due within 180 days after that study), and NHTSA must review FARS underride fatality reporting within 1 year. DOT would publish a public underride resource website upon enactment and update it at least quarterly, and NHTSA would provide free, on-demand web training for state and local law enforcement within 18 months.