In this report a description is given of a study into likely damage-prevention measures being taken by freight transport companies in The Netherlands. A damage-prevention measure was considered to be `likely' if it was preferred for economic reasons by companies engaged in transport. It is clearly shown that it is not possible to make standard calculations of the economic costs and benefits of likely measures which can be deemed representative for all the companies in this sector. The study was therefore confined to the elaboration of example calculations for certain ideally typical companies. This resulted in working out a method of calculating costs and benefits. Based on the example calculations, the following general conclusions were drawn regarding the useful effect produced by the measures: (1) Larger companies in particular could still gain large economic benefits by implementing an active damage-prevention policy. This would also result in a reduction of lorries involved in accidents; and (2) additional benefits to companies resulting from an active damage-prevention policy could be for instance: (a) a more pleasant working atmosphere at the company; and (b) a decrease in the number of injury and fatal accidents involving lorries.
Abstract