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Why Don't Medium Duty and Heavy Duty Trucks require Airbags?

According to GSO 42 regulation, Passenger Cars, MPV, Trucks or Buses with GVW less than 3500Kg requires an airbag, while for MDT & HDT Trucks, there is no such requirements.

Why So?

Don't Heavy vehicle require airbag since they have greater momentum while impact compared to Lighter vehicles?

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  • Perhaps the regulations looked at speed : cars tend to travel faster also, cars drivers are not required to respect driving hours, compulsory rest breaks etc
    – Solar Mike
    Feb 13, 2018 at 4:47
  • Also, you talk about greater momentum during impact, which means more of the force is going to impact the vehicle getting hit and not the driver of the MDT or HDT.
    – Pᴀᴜʟsᴛᴇʀ2 ♦
    Feb 13, 2018 at 13:13
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    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about laws and regulations, not motor vehicle maintenance and repair.
    – CharlieRB
    Feb 13, 2018 at 13:28
  • @paulster2, consider it hitting a wall. You got my point.
    – Santhan Salai
    Feb 13, 2018 at 15:05
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    You are confusing government regulations with logic; they have little connection.
    – blacksmith37
    Feb 13, 2018 at 21:43

2 Answers 2

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Airbags protect the moving occupant against the sudden deceleration of the vehicle. Trucks usually hit objects that are lighter in mass. The truck's energy is transfered to the other vehicle, so the truck decelerates slowly.
Even if the truck hits a wall, the large mass and crumple zone means slower deceleration. The occupant can be protected by only lap/shoulder belts.

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Medium and Heavy Duty trucks are expected to be "work" trucks, not grocery go-getters. Drivers of work trucks are expected to be wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). An airbag can cause serious injury if the occupant is wearing PPE.

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