This publication details the output of a project that aimed to: 1) identify and develop a range of objective performance measures that could be used to evaluate the safety-related performance of heavy vehicles, and 2) determine minimum performance levels that could be applied to the performance measures for heavy vehicle evaluations. The report is split into four main sections: one, performance measures; two, accident studies; three, estimations of fleet characteristics; and four, a summary of proposed performance levels. A review of literature revealed that a wide range of manoeuvres had been developed through many years of research. A selection of these manoeuvres were considered and evaluated and found to be both practical and relevant for the evaluation and characterisation of Australia's heavy vehicle fleet. Accident studies aimed at relating crash involvement to heavy vehicle performance were reviewed, and the relationships that have been identified in these studies provide a sound basis on which to set minimum levels of performance for a number of the performance measures. Computer models were created of a representative (worst case) set of Australian vehicles and simulations were performed using the manoeuvres and performance standards described in this report. The outcomes of this work are considered an essential part of achieving national consistency in the overall on-road performance of the heavy vehicle fleet, as well as eliminating the risk of introducing new or innovative combinations that are less safe than those in the current fleet. (A)
Abstract