America’s Dangerous Trucks
Inside the Battle to Prevent Deadly Crashes
Hundreds of people die every year when cars slide beneath trucks. In the face of opposition from the industry, the federal government has failed for decades to take simple steps to limit the danger.
How Recent State Laws Are Making It Harder to Sue Trucking Companies After Crashes
Texas, Florida, Iowa and other states have passed new laws backed by trucking industry lobbyists that can limit crash victims’ ability to bring lawsuits or cap the compensation plaintiffs can win.
DOT Researchers Suggested a Way to Make Big Trucks Safer. After Meeting With Lobbyists, Agency Officials Rejected the Idea.
The Department of Transportation allowed trucking lobbyists to review an unpublished report recommending a safety device that could save lives by preventing pedestrians and cyclists from getting crushed under large trucks.
Trapped Under Trucks
For decades, federal safety regulators ignored credible scientific research and failed to take simple steps to stop gruesome roadway crashes involving heavy trucks. Meanwhile, the bodies piled up.
New Investigation by ProPublica and FRONTLINE Reveals How Regulators and Lobbyists Blocked Measures to Prevent Deadly Crashes
Thousands of Americans have been killed when their cars slid under the trailers of large trucks. For decades, the Department of Transportation and trucking industry have rejected safety devices meant to prevent these underride crashes.
