The strong economic contribution of the more productive large combination vehicles (Road Trains) operated under permit in some Australian States is leading to applications for the use of unusual configurations. These configurations raise questions of safety and operational suitability on particular routes, particularly in the present economic climate of limited funds for road construction, and maintenance and increasing traffic levels in the traditional road train areas. This paper outlines some aspects of a road train research project into the dynamic performance, traffic impacts and attitudes of other road users to these large combinations in the north of Western Australia. Emphasis is placed on the assessment of the Western Australia. Emphasis is placed on the assessment of the suitability of particular configurations with particular characteristics on particular routes. Factors which need to be considered in such assessment including road standard, road management, traffic volume, road alignment, vehicle configuration and vehicle design are discussed. The potential for developing a generalised, quantitative assessment model based on road standard and vehicle configuration is discussed and some examples of the use of such an approach are considered (A).
Abstract