U.S. rear-impact guards inadequate, Transport Canada says

Transport Canada has proposed new rules requiring most new trailers to be equipped with rear-impact guards, but with several key deviations from requirements in the United States, according to Today's Trucking. Transport Canada's proposed amendments to federal Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations call for tougher crashworthiness standards than the United States currently requres. The agency said rear-impact guards made to comply with U.S. rules "would not adequately protect the front-seat occupants of compact and sub-compact automobiles from passenger compartment intrusion" during a rear-end collision with a trailer. Rear-impact guards typically consist of a bumper that is attached to or integrated into the rear-end structure of a trailer. While there is no Canadian requirement for trailers to be equipped with such a device, the United States has required them on new trailers since Jan. 26, 1998. Most commercial trailers currently operating in Canada have one in order to conform to U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. A trailer that does not may be turned back at the border. The Canadian proposal applies to most trailers with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kg or more to have a rear impact guard. Exceptions include pole trailers, pulpwood trailers, low-chassis trailers, and trailers with equipment located in, or moving through, the area that would be occupied by the bumper. Straight trucks are excluded, as well. Transport Canada said the cost of the more robust impact guard it would require is between $100 and $200 per trailer. It also said that since rear impact guards are sometimes damaged during normal operations, strengthening the guard and its attachments could increase the incidence of damage to the trailer chassis when the guard is struck during routine loading and unloading. The proposed requirements were published in the Canada Gazette Part I on Oct. 5. Transport Canada will accept comments on the proposal for 75 days.