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This 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...
National 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
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. 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.