The Stop Underrides Act 2.0 aims to reduce deaths and injuries from underride crashes, which occur when smaller vehicles or motorcyclists slide underneath large trucks or trailers. The bill requires the Department of Transportation to finalize safety regulations within 18 months mandating side underride guards on new trailers, semitrailers, and single unit trucks, with full compliance required within two years of the rule's finalization. The legislation also reestablishes and expands an advisory committee on underride protection, requiring it to meet monthly until regulations are finalized, and directs the creation of a public website with underride research and victim stories. Additionally, the bill requires studies by the National Academies of Sciences and the Government Accountability Office on front-end truck crashes and rear guard implementation, along with improved law enforcement training to better identify and document underride crashes. Since its creation over 50 years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has documented over 25,000 underride crashes resulting in approximately 31,500 fatalities, prompting this legislative action.
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