The broad purpose of this document is to explore and articulate essential information and perspectives on truck and bus safety research and, in so doing, establish a knowledge base and charter for the new committee. Some of the areas explored may become principal topics of future ANB70 subcommittees or other initiatives. The committee believes that the publication of this circular will energize its members, attract new participants, and serve the greater truck and bus safety community. That community includes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and other federal agencies, state DOTs and other agencies, academic researchers, truck and bus industry trade associations, and of course truck and bus companies, managers, and drivers. Truck and bus safety research is multidisciplinary and encompasses a number of perspectives and disciplines. It shares with the broader topic of traffic safety a concern with human, vehicular, and environmental (i.e., roadway) factors in motor vehicle crashes. Unlike motor transportation in general, however, commercial motor transportation safety is significantly nfluenced by industry operational requirements, types of operations to meet those requirements, carrier safety management policies and activities, legal and regulatory mandates and restrictions, and multi-faceted enforcement activities. (Author/publisher) For abstracts of papers see C 50261 - C 50269.
Abstract