New U.S. legislation—the Stop Underrides Act 2.0—aims to significantly strengthen road safety by requiring all new trucks and trailers to be equipped with side underride guards rated for 40 mph impacts. Advocates argue that these guards could prevent hundreds of fatalities annually by stopping smaller vehicles from sliding underneath large trucks during side‑impact collisions. The proposal follows years of campaigning by safety groups and families affected by underride crashes, who have long pushed for stricter federal standards.
Supporters of the bill say the updated requirements would bring the U.S. closer to international safety benchmarks, where underride protections are more widely adopted. Industry groups, however, have raised concerns about implementation costs and potential operational challenges. As the legislation moves forward, policymakers are weighing the balance between improved public safety and the financial impact on trucking operators, particularly small and mid‑sized fleets.