NTSB Calls for Stronger Truck Safety Measures
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is calling for mandatory driver monitoring systems and broader use of collision avoidance technology in commercial trucks. The recommendation comes after the agency investigated a fatal 2023 crash in Ohio that left six people dead and more than 40 injured.
The investigation found that driver inattention was the primary cause of the crash, which occurred when a tractor-trailer traveling at 72 mph slammed into a line of slow-moving vehicles on Interstate 70 near Etna, Ohio. The chain-reaction collision involved multiple cars, another truck, and a motorcoach carrying students, resulting in a deadly fire that destroyed several vehicles.
What Caused the Ohio Crash
According to the NTSB’s September 24 report, the truck driver, operating a 2019 Freightliner Cascadia for Mid-State Systems Inc., failed to brake or steer before impact. The report found no evidence of mechanical failure, fatigue, or drug and alcohol use. However, phone records revealed unusually high data activity just before the crash, raising the possibility of distraction, though investigators couldn’t confirm app use because the device was destroyed in the fire.
The driver had a prior citation from 2022 for speeding while a mobile game was open on his phone. The NTSB suggested that distracted driving — though unproven in this case — may have contributed to his inattention.
Missing Safety Technology
The NTSB emphasized that the truck lacked key advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as:
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Adaptive Cruise Control
While these features have been standard on new Freightliner Cascadias since 2018, Mid-State Systems opted out of the upgrade to save costs. The truck was also missing an in-cab driver monitoring system (DMS) that could have detected inattention and issued alerts to re-engage the driver.
“We’ve seen this crash scenario far too often — and it’s preventable,” said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. “Proven technologies can warn drivers of slowed traffic and prevent collisions before they happen.”
Safety Recommendations from the NTSB
The NTSB issued eight new safety recommendations and reiterated two prior ones, urging federal regulators and the trucking industry to take immediate action. Among the key proposals:
- Require driver monitoring systems for all commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds to detect risky behavior such as distraction or drowsiness.
- Establish performance standards for collision avoidance technology in heavy trucks.
- Improve traffic queue management and communication among emergency responders after incidents.
- Strengthen fire safety standards for motorcoaches and buses.
The agency also called on trucking organizations — including the American Trucking Associations (ATA), Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), and the Teamsters — to educate members about the life-saving benefits of safety tech and the risks of opting out.
A Push Toward Prevention
The NTSB’s report highlights an urgent message: many deadly truck crashes are preventable through available technology. By adopting driver monitoring and collision avoidance systems, fleets could dramatically reduce the likelihood of distracted driving crashes and improve safety for everyone on the road.
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