TRANSPORTATION

Rule on Truck Rear Guards Draws Fire: New truck trailers and semitrailers must have rear safety guards starting in 1998 to prevent cars from catapulting under them in rear-end crashes, the federal rule says. But safety advocates say the new rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will not prevent most of the fatalities that occur in such collisions. The rule calls for a broad horizontal bar mounted under the trailer deck, not more than 22 inches above the ground. Safety advocates say this is too high and argue for a ground clearance of 12 to 16 inches. John Collins of the American Trucking Assn. said any guard lower than 22 inches could prevent trucks from crossing railroad tracks.