PRINTER'S NO. 1531
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
339
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY LAWRENCE, MARSHALL, MILNE, COHEN, DONATUCCI,
HARHART, KIRKLAND, THOMAS AND WARD, MAY 12, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, MAY 12, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee within the
Department of Transportation to further study the effects of
underride equipment.
WHEREAS, Underride equipment is designed to reduce injuries
and deaths when a passenger vehicle collides with the rear of a
larger and heavier vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer or school
bus; and
WHEREAS, In such collisions, the passenger vehicle may slide
underneath or underride the tractor-trailer or school bus to
such an extent that the rear extremity of the tractor-trailer or
school bus enters the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, Underride equipment is intended to prevent passenger
compartment intrusion by limiting the extent of rear underride;
and
WHEREAS, Current regulations do not require underride
equipment to be installed on school buses, leading to serious
and even deadly consequences for motorists involved in a rear-
end collision with a school bus; and
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WHEREAS, Installation of underride equipment on school buses
presents a variety of questions worthy of study, such as the
ability to install and practicality of the installation of such
devices on school buses, the potential number of lives that
could be saved as a result of the installation of such equipment
and the potential impact to children riding in the passenger
cabin of the school bus in the event of a sudden rear impact;
and
WHEREAS, Previous reviews of this topic have been
inconclusive, leading to a need for further study; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory
Committee is to assess, evaluate and recommend standards for the
safe operation of motor vehicles in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, current research on underride guard performance
is focused on providing greater understanding of the
characteristics of underride events and contributing factors, as
well as providing the next step towards defining a computer
model to evaluate underride guard designs and vehicle impacts
for various types of vehicles and impact scenarios; therefore be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Motor
Safety Advisory Committee within the Department of
Transportation to further study the effects of underride
equipment and report back to the the House of Representatives
with the appropriate findings no later than six months from the
date of passage of this resolution; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee.
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