The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to investigate if warning triangles used near broken-down trucks actually decrease crashes.
Why it matters: Warning devices like triangles are supposed to make roads safer, but it's unclear if they really work.
- Some newer technologies and alternatives to the traditional triangles are emerging, raising questions about their effectiveness.
- The rise of automated driving systems also challenges current warning device rules, as there are no drivers to set up triangles.
Public interest in the effectiveness of these devices is growing, and the FMCSA aims to gather data using modern research tools.
The background: Recently, the FMCSA refused exemption requests from driverless truck companies Waymo and Aurora, who argued that deploying triangles isn't feasible without a human driver.
What's next: The public can comment on the proposed study once the notice appears in the Federal Register, according to a government document.