Both the construction and operation of national vehicles are characterised by much lower safety level. Their construction misses a number of modern systems. The first action to be taken was to analyze, process and compare about fifty regulations of the European Economic Commission of the United Nations devoted to active safety with Russian normative documents (State Standard Specifications, Standard Specifications of Branches of Industry and directions). The results of this work are now being published in three parts: "Running characteristics, stability and informativity of files and road safety". We consider that the special problem is in the "niche" of category M1 vehicles and partially (full weight up to 3,5 tons) 2 and N2, the fleet of which provides up to 80 per cent of city transportation and is the reason up to 85 per cent of the road accidents in the cities. The main trend in Russia is control of the vehicle¦s technical condition on three hierarchical levels: (1) regular production control (self-testing (control) at controlling and technical departments of enterprises); (2) branch inspection control (RTI - through licensing and signing the agreement with production and technical base of the service of motor cars); and (3) state inspection control (State Road Safety Inspection ¡ through state technical examination and other forms). For the mentioned "niche" of vehicles ¡ the 1st level misses, the 2nd is ineffective, and 3rd is insufficient, universal compulsory requirements not being met at all levels. The second trend is the improvement at federal level of the system of car service certification including its technical equipment and periodical inspection control of production and technical base of car-service enterprises. The third trend, as in Germany, maybe the development at federal level of the system of obligatory insurance of both vehicles themselves and the process of their running that economically stimulates renovation of the car fleet. Thus, the essence of this policy is optimum combination of the mentioned trends and search of new solutions with regard for foreign experience. It is obvious that a change in vehicle technical condition during its service defined by the efficiency of its units and systems results in the reduction of the main parameters of active safety. In this connection it is important to carry out a theoretical and experimental research of the degree of this influence and permissible bounds of the change beyond which road safety is considerably reduced and possibility of road accidents increases. Taking into account modern vehicle constructions, first of all the system controlling the dynamics of running on the basis of anti-lock braking system and automatic system of impact preventing, it is dealt with the less known, compared with dynamic quality, aggregate parameters of active safety - stability, controllability, turnability and running smoothness. These aggregate parameters allow to investigate permissible (according to road safety regulations) limits of change of a technical condition of steering, front steering axle, suspension and tyres. Theoretical research includes the development of four mathematical models steering and front steering axle; suspension and tyres; a vehicle on the dynamic all-wheel supported stand with rotating drums which records the geometry of chassis in the position of minimum resistance to movement and also the running of biaxial vehicle in three modes. The models allow to carry out investigations in the following modes of movement: conditionally rectilinear, curvilinear, entering the turn, coming out of the turn, obstacle detour and in these combinations. In conclusion a number of basic indications of reducing road safety are estimated: "wander", skid, side slip, dumping, changing of course and drift angles and others including tiredness of the driver through their main parameters. The last two trends are the object of a research work for Doctor's degree and have not been published yet. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference see ITRD no 207828. The reprints are also available at the web - http://www.vti.se/pdf/reports/K18APart1.pdf; http://www.vti.se/pdf/reports/K18APart2.pdf and http://www.vti.se/pdf/reports/K18APart3.pdf.
Abstract