The Texas Transportation Institute provided the 18-wheeler crash test footage in the January 27th broadcast of Dateline. The broadcast emphasized the need for more regulation and inspection in the trucking industry.
18-wheelers are kings of the road on most Interstate Highways. They haul the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the furniture we buy, and countless other everyday necessities. The number of people killed by trucks is growing, according to Dateline, even though the percentage of crashes involving trucks is decreasing. Anything from faulty brakes, to over-worn tires, loose tires, or improperly secured loads can cause serious accidents. Rep. Frank Wolfe, (R) VA., Chairman of the House Transportation Sub-Committee says many trucks should be taken off of the road. Within 30 days, 40 percent of the trucks inspected in Texas and Florida did not meet minimum safety requirements.
This makes the first time TTI crash test footage was used on Dateline NBC, which boasts more than 12 million viewers each time the program is aired.