Whistleblower Claims Suppression of Truck Safety Report
Washington, D.C. — Quon Kwan, a retired engineer formerly with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has come forward with allegations that key findings from a truck safety research project were suppressed. Kwan, who received a master's degree in divinity and lives in a senior community in Maryland, was prompted to speak out after an email from a mother who lost two children in an underride crash.
Underride crashes occur when a vehicle ends up partially beneath a large truck. These incidents can be fatal, particularly for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists.
In a notarized statement submitted to the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection, Kwan revealed that his 2017 project evaluated the benefits of combining side guards with aerodynamic skirts on trucks. He asserted that the project found side guards could significantly enhance safety and improve fuel efficiency, thus providing a cost-effective solution. However, according to Kwan, essential chapters, including a cost-benefit analysis, were excluded from the final publication.
Kwan retired in 2019 and was surprised to find the published report reduced to a literature review. According to Kwan, the research—conducted by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center and costing $200,000—concluded that side guards were beneficial, but the results faced resistance from certain industry stakeholders, including the American Trucking Associations and a senior official at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In conversations leading up to the 2024 Capitol Hill Roadway Safety Advocacy Days, families affected by underride crashes have been discussing Kwan's revelations. A letter signed by numerous road safety advocates has been sent to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), calling for an investigation into the alleged suppression of the report.
A DOT spokesperson confirmed that the allegations have been referred to the Office of Inspector General and highlighted the department's ongoing efforts to address underride issues, including the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Underride Protection.
Kwan stressed that the suppression of this research not only hampers public safety but also constitutes a misuse of taxpayer money. He emphasized that making such life-saving information available is crucial.