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Comment by CountSessine | Hacker News Reader

It has been proven that a cab-forward design is safer for avoiding accidents directly in front of the vehicles, something that is more focused on in the EU.

Ironic, because back in the 70's when there were more CoE designs driving around in the US, it was generally known through crash tests that CoE cab trucks were a lot less safe than conventional cab trucks in front-end collisions because of the driver's distance to the collision.

If CoE trucks have gotten safer in front-end collisions, it's because a lot of engineering work has been done to mitigate this old problem.

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OP said cab over engine is safer for avoiding accidents (probably because of increased visibility). Not necessarily safer when an accident occurs.

Correct, it has been proven many times that the lack of blindspot directly in front of the vehicle (to the driver) is the main factor. New "stubby" nose school bus designs greatly improved this over existing ones which were closer to a semi. Lately, front cameras and warning systems have made this less of a concern but it still remains the case.

Testing by Volvo determined that in a front-on collision the engine of a conventional cab ended up in the cabin crushing driver. This was the primary reason for CoE adoption in Europe. Similar to cars before safety cells and crumple zones became the norm.

Common perception in America (contrary to actual testing) believed having all that bulk in front made a conventional truck safer.

CoE are better at _preventing_ collisions because of a better field of view, but I'm not sure how good safe they are when there is a collision

Spoke with a trucker about this very issue. He started out driving CoE trucks and said when there's a crash the driver is ejected out through the window. Now this was before the days of airbags but that would be enough to discourage their use. He said it got so drivers refused to work at companies who used them. However it was the desire for increased fuel economy that finally ended their reign.

I've no doubt that the old CoE trucks from the 60s were death traps. But I'd be interested in seeing what the difference is between a modern European Volvo (one of the few companies who build both types) and a US version. I would be very surprised if the difference wasn't negligible. Putting the engine out front is a brute force way of providing safety which isn't necessary with modern design.

Maybe dumb question- I've never been in a truck. Wouldn't the distance from seat to window be ~pretty much the same whether it's CoE or conventional?

There's a hood in front of you for conventional, and I guess crumple zone deceleration comes in to play there? But as this article mentioned US trucks have a much higher average/top speed so you're probably just as likely to go through the window.

No safety belts?

This. However... Might help if you drive your semi into a brick wall at speed. Just because you are more likely the truck goes through the wall before the cab does. Which happens, someone drove a semi into a data center of ours. Fortunately DR response included this type is disaster.

There’s safer as in “less likely for the driver of this vehicle to cause a crash” and there is safer as in “in the event of a collision, it is safer for the driver to be in this car than that one.”

Neatly distinguishing the EU from the US.

> > It has been proven that a cab-forward design is safer for avoiding accidents directly in front of the vehicles

> Ironic, because back in the 70's when there were more CoE designs driving around in the US, it was generally known through crash tests that CoE cab trucks were a lot less safe than conventional cab trucks in front-end collisions

That's not ironic: safety in collisions from one direction and safety for avoiding collisions from the same direction are very different and often opposed things.

The 70's were 50 years ago.

Back then we barely had seat belts, let alone airbags, adaptive cruise control, automated braking in case of collision, blind spot detectors, etc.

Most of that tech is not commonly found on a semi-tractor anyhow.

It's all legally required in new tractors in the EU.

Other than the collision part addressed by sister comments, the shorter designs also help reduce blind spots. There ‘s a lot more than just the driver’s safety.

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