This paper presents a statistical procedure for determining the probabilities of accident involvement for certain truck configurations, given specific manoeuvres and a mix of road and traffic conditions. The approach consists of a micro-level simulation applied to a controlled freeway environment. The aim was to obtain the pattern of manoeuvres over time and space for each truck in the traffic stream. The methodology is applied to three freeway test sections, with given road and traffic characteristics. Manoeuvres that are most problematic from the perspective of accident involvement are noted for different truck configurations and loading conditions. The results of this analysis are useful in establishing accident reduction strategies for freeways that are sensitive to the specific requirements of different truck configurations and loading conditions.
Samenvatting