The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued strict new braking standards that will save lives by improving large truck stopping distance by 30 percent.

NHTSA estimates that the new braking rule will save 227 lives annuallyand will also prevent 300 serious injuries. It is estimated to decrease property damage costs by over $169 million annually.

"Safety is our highest priority," Secretary LaHood said. “Motorists deserve to know they are sharing the road with large trucks that are up to the safest possible standards, so they can get home living to their families."

The new regular requires that a tractor-trailer traveling at 60 miles per hour come to a complete stop in 250 feet. The old standard required an entire stop within 355 feet.

The new regulation will be phased in over four years start with 2012 models.

The new rule should speed up the introduction of the latest brake technology into America's freight moving fleets and will help truck drivers avoid collisions with other vehicles.

The new rule applies only to truck tractors, and does not include single-unit trucks, trailers and buses.

The latest statistics from NHTSA show that large commercial vehicles continue to show reduce in their involvement in fatal crashes. In 2008, 4,229 people were killed in crashes relating large trucks, down 12 percent from the 4,822 deaths recorded in 2007.