Two Dead Because Trucks Don’t Have Side Guards

The story is too familiar. A bicyclist ends up under a truck and is killed by the rear tires because the truck does not have side guards. These two similar and very sad stories did not have to end with the death, serious injury maybe, but not death. Accidents and collisions are going to happen as long as we have vehicles and bicyclists/pedestrians sharing the road. The problem is with vehicles especially Class 3 and above that do not have side guards installed on them. Side Guards are designed to prevent pedestrians and bicyclists from going under the vehicles.

These two accidents happen in locations where efforts are being made to create mandates and standards that require side guards on Class 3 vehicles and above. Brooklyn, NY and Toronto are cities with dense populations and are further proof that we need side guards to become mandated from the top down.