TRUCK AIR BRAKES--CURRENT STANDARDS AND PERFORMANCE

This paper provides an overview of the problems associated with heavy truck air brakes. Overall truck accident experience is examined, and an assessment made of the effect that improved braking could have on reducing accident frequency. The controversial Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 121 brake standard is reviewed together with the maintenance and reliability problems that led to its rescission. Current brake technology is discussed and the stopping distances that can be expected from trucks are theoretically and experimentally evaluated. The effect that out-of-adjustment brakes have on these stopping distances is assessed. Finally, improvements that can be expected from new brake technology are reviewed, and the feasibility and practicality of a new brake safety standard discussed in relation to European brake regulations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the 28th Annual Conference of the American Association for Automotive Medicine Denver, Colorado.
• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Authors:
  • Jones, I S
• Publication Date: 1984-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adjustment factors; Air brakes; Equipment maintenance; Heavy vehicles; Performance evaluations; Stopping distances; Technological innovations; Traffic crashes
• Identifier Terms: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
• Uncontrolled Terms: Equipment adjustment
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00450137
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 529
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM