In October, the Boston City Council voted unanimously to pass a Truck Side Guard Ordinance, the first of its kind in the U.S., designed to prevent fatalities and reduce the risks of collision with pedestrians and cyclists.

The ordinance mandates that city-contracted vehicles over 10,000 pounds (for tractor-trailers, a combined weight over 26,000 pounds) be equipped with side guards, convex mirrors, cross-over mirrors, and blind-spot awareness decals.  Trucking companies that are awarded a contract will have their vehicles inspected and, if in compliance with the ordinance, will be certified two years.  Businesses with noncompliant vehicles will face a fine, escalating from $100 for the first offense to potential termination of the contract.

The Truck Side Guard Ordinance is a result of a year-long pilot project that tested three different types of side guards on 16 large vehicles and reviewed data from external studies and field observations. According to officials with the City of Boston, the cost of retrofitting trucks is approximately $1,800 and should last the lifetime of the vehicle.