May 3, 2012. Paul Hixon
credit: pedrosimoes7In the past, most trucks only had a few safety components. Standard cars had the newest and most efficient safety devices on the market, but trucks were usually placed on the backburner.
However, this has changed over the past couple of years since all newer trucks are required to have at extensive safety features to protect both the driver and the occupants.
Side Impact
It is becoming increasingly popular for diesel trucks for sale to feature side airbags. These devices are lined on the top part of the window on the sides of the cabin, right above the door. If there is an impact on either side of the truck, it will trigger the airbags. However, used diesel trucks designed for off-road driving may have a problem with airbags that go off every time the vehicle goes over a large bump. To keep this from happening, many trucks have an off-button for the airbag mechanism.
Stability Control
Trucks will require good stability control when driving on muddy or slippery roads. Even experienced drivers can lose control of their truck on slippery conditions, so adding stability control can greatly lessen those chances. If an abnormal movement or condition is detected by the system, it will compensate by applying a little brake pressure and slightly decreasing the throttle, allowing the driver to control the vehicle better.
Seat Belts
Trucks have had seat belts for many decades. However, standard seat belt designs are now phasing out in favor of newer and stronger seatbelts that better protect passengers. A big cause of injury during high speed accidents is the impact a passenger has with their seatbelt. To prevent this, many trucks feature seat belts with pre tensioners that offers fall amounts of slack before tightening. This reduces impact force and prevents internal injuries during a high speed crash.
Updated May 3, 2012. Published June 2, 2011. Paul Hixon
