Trailer under-ride guards pass the test
Quebec based trailer manufacturer, Manac passed several safety tests with regard to the under-ride carriage (also known as Mansfield bars) on the rear of their trailers, according to American safety experts. These guards were initially put into place to lower the deck height on the trailer to prevent vehicles from under-riding the trailer if they hit it from the rear. Most newer vehicles today are made to absorb impact at their front end and prevent that impact from continuing through to the driver and passenger areas. Manac trailers passed all of IIHS tests because the Mansfield bars, maintain their functionality and position on the rear of the trailer stopping a vehicle from continuing under, in the event of impact. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hopes that a regulation is put into place for all trailer manufacturers but in the meantime want the trailer buyers to insist on stronger guards. This small enhancement added 20 lbs to the overall weight of the trailer at a cost of only $20.
