In Japan, operators of transport businesses that use trucks, buses and taxis are mandated by law to carry out driving safety control of the vehicles they use in their business operations. Consequently, transport business operators provide guidance to their drivers in safe driving practices, based on data concerning the three parameters of speed, time, and distance, which are recorded on tachographs attached to large trucks, buses, and other vehicles. One of the most promising recent trends in the advance of technology to ensure safe operation of vehicles is the development of Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV). Among the most significant developments in ASV are advances in a wide range of sensors to detect conditions in and around the vehicle, including the spread of digital tachograph. Digital tachograph can record not only the above three driving condition-related parameters (speed, time and distance) but also other parameters and may be readily analyzed for pertinent information. The authors expect to see further improvements in the safe operation of transport business vehicles thanks to transport business operators' use of digital tachograph and other technological advances to control their transport operations.
Abstract