Truck side guards reduce cyclist fatalities by 55-75% but the U.S. has no federal mandate, unlike the EU which required them starting July 2024

When a cyclist falls or is pushed under the side of a large truck, they are dragged under the rear wheels. This is one of the most lethal crash types in urban cycling — the fatality rate for cyclist-truck side-impact crashes exceeds 50%. Side guards are simple metal panels or rails mounted between the front and rear wheels of trucks that prevent a person from going under the vehicle. Research shows they reduce cyclist fatalities by 55-75% and pedestrian fatalities by 20-27%. The European Union mandated blind-spot assistance systems and side guards for all newly type-approved heavy commercial vehicles starting July 2024. In the United States, there is no equivalent federal requirement. NHTSA has conducted cost-benefit analyses but has not issued a rule. A handful of cities have passed local ordinances — Boston was the first U.S. city to require side guards on city-contracted trucks — but these only apply to a small fraction of the truck fleet. The vast majority of trucks operating on U.S. urban streets have completely open sides. The structural reason the U.S. lags is the fragmented regulatory landscape. Vehicle safety standards are set federally by NHTSA, but cities and states cannot mandate vehicle equipment standards that conflict with or exceed federal rules (under federal preemption doctrine). So even a city that experiences multiple cyclist deaths from truck side-impact crashes cannot require all trucks entering the city to have side guards — only a federal rule can do that. The trucking industry has lobbied against side guard mandates, citing cost ($1,000-$2,500 per truck for installation) and weight (which affects cargo capacity). Meanwhile, the League of American Bicyclists has documented NHTSA's persistent failure to address cyclist safety in its regulatory agenda. The result is a regulatory gap where a proven, inexpensive safety device that is mandatory in Europe remains optional in the country where cyclist fatalities are rising fastest.