NHTSA is expected to publish an ANPRM on Reduction of Stopping Distance for Heavy Duty Trucks in the "Federal Register" at the end of June/early summer.

Due to a cost/benefit analysis review, NHTSA has delayed the release of the rulemaking. NHTSA believes that due to recent technological advances in medium and heavy duty vehicle brakes, specifically in the area of disk brakes and electronic brake systems (EBS), required stopping distances for these vehicles can be made substantially shorter. The rule is expected to reduce the stopping distance of commercial trucks by nearly 30 percent.

At the Truck and Bus SAE Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, in November 2003, Duane Perrin, chief of the crash avoidance division, Office of Vehicle Safety Research for NHTSA, gave a presentation on brake technology which highlighted a number of likely regulations He included discussion of upcoming NHTSA rulemaking on stopping distance that would take effect in 2007. Perrin's presentation also included data comparing stopping distances from 75 mph with tractors utilizing several brake systems: traditional S-cam brakes, air-disc brakes and air discs with electronically controlled braking systems. His data argued that air-discs - with greater torque input and fade resistance-can stop a tractor-trailer in one-third less distance.