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The Essentials of Long Combination Vehicles. Presented to FHWA Talking Freight May 20, 2009 John Woodrooffe. Goal: To Shrink the “ICE” cube. I njuries C rashes E xposure. Probability of crash/exposure. Exposure. Probability of injury/crash. Technology. Transport Efficiency & Safety.
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The Essentials of Long Combination Vehicles Presented to FHWA Talking Freight May 20, 2009 John Woodrooffe
Goal: To Shrink the “ICE” cube Injuries Crashes Exposure Probability of crash/exposure Exposure Probability of injury/crash
Technology Transport Efficiency & Safety Policy Human
Present time Policy Safety Benefit Technology Human Time Contribution to Safety State, NHTSA, FMCSA FHWA, Fleet
The LCV Task • Differentiate between the low density cube limited freight task and the high density mass limited freight task • Vehicles are very different • Efficiencies and benefits are very different • This discussion focuses on the cube limited freight task - LCVs
Vehicle Dynamic Performance • Performance based methods exist to evaluate vehicle dynamic behavior • Coupling methods have a significant influence on vehicle stability performance • Longer trailers tend to be less dynamically sensitive
A-Train B-Train C-Train C-Train
KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES • Steady-state roll stability • rearward amplification • load transfer ratio • high-seed offtracking • high-speed transient offtracking • high speed friction utilization • low-speed offtracking • low-speed friction utilization
Pass Fail
LCV Safety Performance (benefits are strongly linked to policy) Source: Alberta LCV Safety Study (Woodrooffe & Associates)
Alberta Study Conclusions • The Alberta LCV fleet crash rate is 5 times better than tractor semi-trailers • The LCV safety improvement is attributed to special permit road transport policy • 42% of LCV collisions occurred under adverse conditions • Further improvements in safety performance of LCV’s can be expected if more aggressive weather restrictions were applied
Special Permit Management • Acceptance into the program require a minimum performance threshold • Require special safety technologies on vehicle • Regular incident reporting by carriers important to ensure maximum benefit • Highway safety and weight violation information linked to performance evaluation • Meaningful enforcement is essential • The system should foster pride – it should be seen as a privilege and not a right
What we have learned • Managed LCV operations have a significantly better safety record than normal trucks (5 – 7 times) • Other benefits include: • Reduced fuel use (strategically significant 30% ) • Reduced emissions CO2 and NOX (30%) • Reduction in road consumption 40% • Truck VMT reduction 44% • Congestion benefits • Driver shortage & training benefits Societal value of the LCV is very high with wide ranging benefits including environmental impact, fuel supply and safety.
Friendly Truck Vehicle TechnologiesAdd More Benefits Lane Departure Warning Systems 1 Roll Stability Systems and Electronic Stability Systems 2 4 1 Forward Collision Warning Systems with Adaptive Cruise Control 3 2 3 Vehicle diagnostic and location systems 4
Improved Improved Value of Number of Fuel, Operation, Maintenance & Road Savings Competitiveness Competitiveness crashes crashes Cost of Reduced Carbon & Emissions Driver Retention Preventable Prevented Crashes & Training costs by LDWS Reduced Congestion Reduced Insurance Cost Indirect Indirect Direct Direct Benefits Benefits Savings Savings Total Benefits Total Benefits Total Costs Total Costs Anticipated Anticipated National Transport Payback Period Efficiency Gain and ROI Applying Cost-Benefit Methodology- Defining Societal Value -
Conclusion - Possible U.S. Application • Create a special “friendly truck” category • Vehicles must comply with performance measure • Fitted with advanced technologies (ESC, forward collision, speed limiters, active driver and vehicle monitoring devices) • Like all moving and vehicle violations monitored and referenced • Minimum driver experience requirements • Expect a factor of 10 reduction in crash rates for this vehicle class compared with tractor semi-trailer
More Information OECD Study – Heavy Vehicles: Operational and productivity Improvements • Safety and productivity analysis – 40 vehicles from 10 countries • Effects of regulatory measures • Possible regulatory and operational improvements
International conference on efficient, safe and sustainable truck transportation systems At UMTRI June 15, 16 & 17 www.magictrucks.org