In developed countries there is significant public pressure to ease traffic congestion and improve vehicle safety. Developments are also being made that will improve fuel efficiency, lower compliance costs and provide improved targeting of enforcement activities. These new technologies have the potential to not only improve vehicle safety but also improve the efficiency of vehicle inspections and enforcement procedures. This report assesses technologies installed on heavy vehicles by grouping them in the following primary areas: Braking, tyres and suspension, steering, vision, fuel efficiency, crash avoidance, vehicle monitoring and crash mitigation. The introduction of these new technologies and the benefits that will accrue are strongly influenced by the rules governing heavy vehicle design and operation, as well as the public's perception of these technologies. Finally, this report links and then ranks the new technologies to various compliance and enforcement strategies road authorities may wish to pursue in the future. (Author/publisher)
Abstract