The Coordinating Group on the Impact of Heavy Freight Vehicles was established in 1980 to review past and current research and to identify the main methodological and analytical approaches used in Member countries for assessing the effects of heavy freight vehicles. The study was supported by 16 Member countries and 4 international governmental and professional organisations. After an Introduction which specifies the detailed tasks of the Group and describes the major trends and issues, the second Chapter highlights the main policy, scientific and technic-economic aspects involved. Bases on selected statistical data Chapter III reviews the scala and role of heavy freight vehicles, both from national and international perspectives. Chapters IV-VIII examine the effects of heavy freight vehicles on the following main sectors: traffic, safety, pavements, bridges and the environment. Chapter IX deals with vehicle operation and energy considerations, and in Chapter X an attempt is made to cost all these effects. Then, Chapter XI reviews the structure, content and results of recent systems studies undertaken in Member countries, and finally, Chapter XII provides the Group's details conclusions and recommendations. The report should provide policy-makers, administrators and researchers with a comprehensive compendium of the most recent research available in this priority area of road transport.
Samenvatting