TRUCK SIZE AND WEIGHT STUDY PHASE I: WORKING PAPERS 1 AND 2 COMBINED. VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS AFFECTING SAFETY

This paper addresses the relationship of truck size and weight (TS&W) policy, vehicle handling and stability, and safety. Handling and stability are the primary mechanisms relating vehicle characteristics and safety. Vehicle characteristics may also affect safety by mechanisms other than handling and stability. For example, vehicle length may affect safety through interactions with other vehicles, such as passing maneuvers and in clearing intersections, in addition to its influence on vehicle handling and safety. However, the safety effect of vehicle length due to its influence on handling and stability is within the scope of this paper, while safety effects arising through mechanisms other than handling and stability, such as passing and intersection clearance, are not.