Research report - Truck brake safety on long and very steep roads

Date: 22nd Feb 2018
Austroads has completed its final research report on heavy vehicle brake safety.

The report (AP-R362/10, ISBN 978-1-921709-33-3, published July 2010) is titled “Heavy Vehicle Brake Safety on Long and Very Steep Roads”. The report can be downloaded for free from the Austroads website (see source below). The research was carried out in three stages:
  1. A literature review that looked at descriptions of service and auxiliary braking devices, intelligent transport systems, international braking regulations and previous research. New technology can greatly increase safety, however it can occur that the new technology can result in drivers travelling faster down steep slopes than before due to more confidence.
  2. Crash data was analysed. Even though few crashes resulted from brake failure, the crashes were often very severe. Horizontal curves and vertical grades resulted in the most crashes, with theses crashes also being more severe.
  3. Vehicle tests were carried out. Two vehicles were tested and included the three most common auxiliary braking systems. These included the engine brake, exhaust brake and retarder.
One of the main safety issues is the drivers understanding of the auxiliary brakes. Even owner’s manuals were found to be insufficient in this area. The driver needs to be trained with the specific information on the vehicle being driven, including gear selection for specific grades with a given payload. A grade display in the cab may also be necessary.

Please access the Austroads website for a detailed and more complete account of the research. Source: www.austroads.com.au
August 2010 Log transport on-highway
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