A Scientific Approach to Tractor-Trailer Side Underride Analysis

Crashes between passenger vehicles and large tractor trailer vehicles often result in serious injuries and death. There have been few studies of this class of crash involving the side of the large tractor trailers and the passenger vehicles. Studies have shown that side underrides are underreported in crash records. A literature search has shown that there are no generally accepted methodologies to document and scientifically reconstruct a side underride accident. Some of the problems existed because there was a general lack of information on the side underride crash. Rear underride crashes were being studied which yielded helpful information. This led the authors to study a series of trailer side underride crashes that were performed to determine if there were sufficient relationships between passenger vehicle body and roof styles and the side of large highway trailers to allow the development of a general formula for underride impact speed analysis of a vehicle where the roof and roof support structure of the vehicle was damaged. These tests provided valuable insight into the relationships between passenger vehicle roof structures and the sides of large box trailers.