Safety
Keeping Drivers Safe with Innovative Intersection Design Research and Evaluation
More than 50 percent of fatal crashes and crashes resulting in injuries occur at or near intersections. Learn more about FHWA’s efforts to significantly improve the safety of standard intersections by developing novel designs and implementing them nationwide—with help from researchers from the U.S...Lateral Protective Device Best Practice Specification
About This DocumentThis document is intended to be used by (1) public or private medium/heavy-duty truck fleets considering adding lateral protective devices (LPDs), also known as side guards; (2) jurisdictions or customers that require LPDs through policy or procurement; (3) manufacturers...
Truck Lateral Protective Device Technical Overview
About This DocumentThis technical overview provides safety and operational considerations for truck lateral protective devices. Truck lateral protective devices are devices designed to keep vulnerable road users (VRUs)—pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists—from being run over by a large...
Effects of Side Skirts and Wheel Covers on Heavy Trailers
About This DocumentNational Research Council Canada Prepared for: Transport Canada Road Safety 275 Stater Sl Ottawa, ON
Prepared by: Jeff Patten, P. Eng. Chelsey Laionde, EIT William Mayda, P. Eng. Gordon Poole, P. Eng.
Technical Report April 5, 2012
Truck Lateral Protective Device (LPD) Resources
Note: the term "side guard" is used colloquially throughout this webpage and related materials, but refers to "lateral protective devices" and not to "underride" guards.
Truck lateral protective devices are vehicle-based safety devices designed to keep pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists from being run over by a large truck’s rear wheels in a side-impact collision.
The U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s 2020 Reports
The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Volpe Center published nearly 60 reports and conference papers in 2020 spanning a breadth of transportation topics that advance U.S. DOT’s priorities: safety, infrastructure, innovation, and accountability.
These reports are housed in the National Transportation Library and are listed below by topic areas. Select the linked report titles to preview and download copies of the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s 2020 transportation resources.
The Imperative and Opportunity to Invest in Resilient Infrastructure
Learn more about the U.S. DOT Volpe Center’s recent Straight from the Source event with Dr. Stephen Flynn, founding director of the Global Resilience Institute and a professor of political science and of civil and environmental engineering at Northeastern University.Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
About This DocumentThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) collaborated with the U.S. DOT Volpe Center to develop the new CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, an online database for reporting drug and alcohol violations and other information about CDL holders who operate...
Resiliency of the Global Positioning System (GPS) Infographic
About This DocumentGPS receivers are susceptible to disruption and interference. The need for reliable sources of position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information is more important now than ever.
In support of and collaboration with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for...