www'arrb'com'auAdvancing safety and efficiency in transport through knowledge

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Local roads for heavy vehicle access - what
trucks can safely use what roads?

• Dr Chris Blanksby, Principal Engineer
• ARRB Heavy Vehicles

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Overview

• SMART Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles
• Route classification guidelines
• Impact on infrastructure
• Matching trucks to roads
• Fleet safety

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SMART PBS vehicles (1)

• PBS is an alternative compliance scheme
• Allows vehicles exemptions from some dimensional
  requirements if they meet performance standards
• Performance standards include
• Acceleration and grade capability
• Swept path
• Stability
• Performance can satisfy one of four levels,
  qualifying for different levels of access

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SMART PBS vehicles (2)
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SMART PBS vehicles (3)

• More commonlyvariations on conventional vehicles

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Route classification guidelines (1)

• SMART vehicles regularly approved
• Designation of suitable routes is less routine
  and a key barrier

subject to local restrictions and 50 t gross
mass limit
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Route classification guidelines (2)

• Key is often access to local roads for the last
  mile
• Increasingly, PBS applicants will seek council
  approval for operation on local roads
• ARRB developed Route classification guidelines
  for the National Transport Commission
• Provides objective criteria for evaluating
  suitability of roads for vehicles

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Route classification guidelines (3)

• Route classification guidelines provide details
  on
• Road and bridge width
• Level of service (user expectations)
• Overtaking
• Signalised intersections and railway crossings
• Entry length
• Sight distance
• Overhead clearance
• Parking and roadside infrastructure
• Amenity and environmental considerations

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Infrastructure impact

• Safety, access and environmental impacts are well
  developed considerations in PBS
• Infrastructure impacts (pavement and bridge
  loading) are based on conventional vehicles
  (conservative approach)
• Existing axle group limits (GML, HML)
• Bridge formulae
• Exception quad-axle groups allowed 27t on HML
• Further research underway
• Initially, there should be no likelihood of
  increased wear

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Matching trucks to roads (1)
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Matching trucks to roads (2)
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Matching trucks to roads (3)

• Setting safe speed limits for trucks
• Advisory bend speed is for cars
• Not entirely suitable for trucks
• Truck safe speed can be determined by proximity
  to rollover

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On-road performance (1)
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On-road performance (2)

• Traffic flow, congestion and delays associated
  with heavy vehicles
• ARRB conducted a study looking at the impacts of
  various heavy vehicles on travel time for rural
  and urban roads of varying grades
• Passenger Car Equivalent Units higher than
  expected
• ARRB also looked at the impact of 90 km/h speed
  limits for heavy vehicles on rural roads
• Negligible difference in safety
• Negligible difference in travel time (for both
  trucks and cars)

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Fleet safety (1)

• Fleet safety standards can have a big impact on
  local communities
• Local operators, drivers and customers
• Potential incentive for operators to address
  fleet safety record

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Fleet safety (2)

• Crash reconstruction

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Fleet safety (3)

• Training videos

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Summary

• SMART vehicles will be increasing and some may
  require route assessment and council endorsement
• Matching vehicles to roads can improve
  operational safety
• Fleet operators can undertake programs to improve
  safety