Protecting Pedestrians From Truck Accidents

A recent New York State law is intended to eliminate blind spots for truckers driving in New York City and reduce truck accidents involving pedestrians.

Since January 13, large trucks with New York registrations must have front-end mirrors installed if they intend to travel in any of the five boroughs of New York City. The new law applies to all trucks that weigh at least 26,000 pounds with conventional cabs.

The effort to require front-end mirrors began after an accident involving two boys, ages 10 and 11, who were waiting to cross a street in Park Slope. The back wheel of a dump truck struck and dragged them several feet before the driver was alerted by witnesses. The driver had not seen the boys because of the blind spot and made no effort to avoid them.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 161 pedestrians in New York City were killed and 2,732 were injured in accidents involving trucks during the ten-year period ending in 2008. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said that the new law will “help protect pedestrians in our city streets, particularly children, from being injured or killed when a truck first begins to move.

Qualifying trucks belonging to the City of New York already have these mirrors, known as cross-over mirrors.

Source: Landline Magazine, “Front end mirrors required for certain New York City trucks,” by Keith Goble, Jan. 17, 2012.