Recent concerns regarding the handling performance of police vehicles (particularly the Holden Commodore divisional van) led to the police requesting Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) firstly to conduct an analysis of vehicle handling and stability for different vehicle types in their fleet, and secondly, to assist in defining selection and performance criteria for police vehicles. The first phase of this work has been carried out and is the subject of this report. The work comprised two main tasks: (i) analysis of the police vehicle accident database, and the vehicle database, with regard to determining the incidence and rate of rollover involved crashes for each vehicle type; and (ii) determine stability and dynamic handling characteristics of a range of police vehicles using tilt table test, and steady state turning and a double lane change manoeuvre. Thirteen vehicles were tested for centre of gravity height (tilt table) and a further six for handling evaluation. (Author/publisher)
Abstract