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Trucking companies that fail to retrofit their older trucks with reflective tape face increasing liability for nighttime accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has for several years required that new tractors and trailers be equipped with reflective tape. Now the Federal Highway Administration is considering requiring that trucking companies put reflective tape on their older unmarked trucks as well.
Government studies indicate that reflective tape could lead to a 25% reduction in nighttime collisions with trucks. The results of these studies have been well publicized in trucking magazines.
Reflective tape reflects light rays from the headlights of cars, as they approach a truck from the side or rear, directly back to the motorist. This reduces accidents by increasing awareness and nighttime visibility of the truck ahead.
Several years ago the American Trucking Association joined with other trucking associations to make reflective tape available for older trucks on a low-cost basis. The average truck can now be adequately marked with reflective tape for approximately $100.
Although the federal government may not require it, a jury could still find a trucking company negligent for failing to retrofit its older vehicles with reflective tape. This is because our jury system still allows local juries to set higher safety standards for their communities.
Because of the size and weight of commercial trucks, collisions involving them often result in fatalities or catastrophic injuries. Our law firm's experience in representing victims of truck accidents confirms that a clearly marked truck or trailer could save a trucking company millions of dollars in damages.
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