The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is debating whether to require stability control systems for highway trucks in light of research that shows its addition could prevent nearly 3,500 rollover-related accidents and save more than 100 lives annually. Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the University of Michigan indicates that rollovers reportedly occur in only about 13 percent of heavy-truck fatal crash involvements, but they account for 50 percent of truck-occupant fatalities. A decision on mandating the technology is expected by the end of the year, with possible implementation in 2012.

WASHINGTON – Mandatory stability control systems for highway trucks could prevent nearly 3,500 rollover-related accidents and save over 100 lives a year, the National Transportation Safety Board heard this week.

According to the Associated Press, Nathaniel Beuse, director of crash avoidance standards at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the NTSB at a hearing that the agency is wrapping up studies on the benefits of requiring stability control technology on trucks by the end of the year.

Based on research by the NHTSA and the University of Michigan, Beuse said stability control would prevent 106 highway deaths and 4,400 injuries annually.

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