The physical mass and geometry of heavier vehicles increases the risk of serious or fatal injuries when the vehicles are involved in accidents. TRL has extensive experience in the field of heavy vehicle safety and accident data analysis, and has provided research to the UK government and European Commission which has led to amendments to, or proposals for, legislation or Codes of Practice related to heavy vehicle safety. Topics covered have included:

• front and rear underrun protection
• side guards
• spray suppression
• braking
• rollover stability
• seat belts and occupant protection
• field of view
• load security
• wheel detachment.

What Do We Do?

TRL can develop performance assessments or evaluations of heavy vehicles or their systems to assist fleet operators in increasing workplace safety. We can also conduct impartial assessments of systems or components for manufacturers or design teams to assist in the development of new products (e.g. spray suppression equipment or rollover monitoring systems).

TRL has routinely collected fatal accident data on behalf of the UK Department for Transport since the early 1990s and intermittently currently manages the following Heavy Vehicle Crash Injury Study (HVCIS) databases:

• Fatals database populated from police fatal accident reports
• Truck Crash Injury Study (TCIS) populated from retrospective vehicle examinations carried out by the UK Vehicle Operator and Standards Agency (VOSA). 

Access to this data uniquely equips TRL experts with insights into accident trends and patterns relating to heavy vehicles. Knowledge of this kind is particularly helpful, informing assessment criteria and enabling prioritisation for future work within the context of real accidents.

TRL and Heavy Vehicle Safety

TRL carries out research to further improve on previously regulated safety devices, as well as transferring knowledge gained from research into other types of vehicles. Examples are the development of test requirements for improved rear underrun protection and the development of agricultural vehicle braking standards based on knowledge gained from heavy goods vehicle braking.

Current/Recently Completed Research Projects Include:

• Large goods and large passenger vehicle safety features: an assessment of current performance and evaluation of future priorities - UK Department for Transport
• Tests, procedures and benefits of the requirements for the updating of legislation on rear underrun protection - European Commission
• Longer and heavier goods vehicle study - UK Department for Transport
• Heavy Vehicle Crash Injury Study (HVCIS) - UK Department for Transport
• Commercial vehicles: loading factors and incidents - UK Highways Agency
• Testing methods and limit values for braking systems of agricultural and forestry tractors and their trailers or machinery - European Commission
• Technical requirements, costs and benefits relating to vehicle emergency braking systems - European Commission

With its world-renowned experts and extensive knowledge of vehicle safety, TRL offers fleet operators, manufacturers and governments confidential and impartial research and consultancy services covering;

• accident analysis
• braking and stability assessments
• assessment of control systems (ABS, rollover stability controls etc.)
• manoeuvrability assessment - virtual and physical
• spray measurement
• mathematical modelling
• customised impact testing
• assessment of load-securing methods
• field of view assessment - virtual and physical
• tilt table testing
• feasibility assessments for new vehicle combinations.

If you're interested in learning more about the topics covered in this section, or you can't find what you're looking for and would like to talk to someone in detail about a specific topic, please contact:

Iain Knight
Telephone: +44 (0)1344 770079
Email: iknight@trl.co.uk