14.02.2026 15:51
MHP member Halil Öztürk called on the Ministry of Industry and Technology to make the implementation of shock-absorbing bumpers mandatory for heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries in order to minimize the risk of fatalities in rear-end traffic accidents.
MHP Kırıkkale Member of Parliament Halil Öztürk called for the mandatory installation of "crash attenuator/shock absorbing" bumpers on heavy vehicles such as trucks and tractor-trailers.
10,306 ACCIDENTS AND 527 FATALITIES IN 2024
Highlighting official accident data, Öztürk stated, "In the road network under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Highways, the number of fatal and injury accidents caused by 'rear-end collisions' in 2024 is recorded as 10,306; in these accidents, 527 of our citizens lost their lives, and 19,313 people were injured. On the other hand, the monthly bulletin of the General Directorate of Security includes a record of 'Rear-End Collision: 33,326' for the year 2025," he said.
EXAMPLES FROM THE USA, CANADA, AND THE UK
According to a report by Mahir Kılıç from Habertürk; MHP's Öztürk pointed out that shock-absorbing bumper applications are a legal requirement in countries such as the USA, Canada, and the UK. Öztürk stated, "In the USA, the standards for the rear protection of trailers and semi-trailers aim for 'rear impact protection to provide sufficient strength and energy absorption'; technical frameworks are based on performance criteria that reduce the risk of underride. Similarly, in Canada, a test methodology based on energy absorption measurement for rear protection equipment has been defined," he expressed. In the UK, he noted that the "Safer Trucks Program," which mandates side protection and equipment that enhances the driver's visibility in certain heavy vehicles, ensures that safety standards are not just on paper.
CALL TO THE MINISTRY
MHP's Öztürk called for a change in the "Regulation on Type Approval of Fuel Tanks and Rear Protection Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Trailers" dated January 17, 2008, to reduce losses in rear-end collisions involving heavy vehicles that cause numerous fatalities. Öztürk stated, "Rear protection equipment should be redefined to prevent underride. Not only should there be a 'presence/absence' check, but performance criteria such as crash attenuation/energy absorption should be included in the legislation," he said. MHP's Öztürk added, "The adaptation of small-scale carriers to the system can be accelerated through means such as appropriate credit, tax advantages, and improvements in insurance premiums."