Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ("NHTSA") has been zeroing in for some time on the all-too-real problem of heavy truck rollovers and their often devastating consequences, the agency acknowledges that a particular truck accident gave strong impetus to material safety changes that are forthcoming.

Readers might remember that accident, which occurred in Indianapolis in 2009. A large tanker-truck rolled over in a crash, with liquid propane igniting into a fireball. Witnesses said they could feel the heat from over a mile away. Fully 14 miles of Interstate 65 was closed for eight hours following the accident.

It is the potential for that type of incident to occur that has spurred strong and concerted research efforts into developing new and vastly improved stability-control systems in large trucks, along the lines of -- and, NHTSA safety experts hope, virtually as effective as -- those already operative in passenger cars.

The agency believes that is close to happening, and expects to announce a new standard sometime later this year. Improved technology will enable larger trucks to operate at speeds that are optimal when negotiating turns in roads, and it will also assist drivers with sensors that automatically correct steering when something unforeseen happens.

Currently, only 20 to 25 percent of new trucks sold today incorporate a stability-control system, which is sold as optional equipment in almost all cases. The NHTSA wants that number at 100 percent.

Related Resource: Bloomberg, "Bendix, Meritor Look for Boost from NHTSA's Truck-Rollover Rule" July 12, 2011