| Popis: |
From 2003 on, the numbers of accidents and victims have decreased significantly in Spain: the number of deaths was in 2010 54 % below that of 2003. This has been to a great extent the results of several safety policy measures such as the penalty point system, surveillance and control campaigns and a considerable increase in the media of road safety-related issues. However, accidents with involvement of vans (LGV’s less than 3500 kg) have not followed this trend, and thus the contribution of this kind of vehicles to the global figures has risen. Within this context, INSIA has conducted an ambitious research project, developed with the purpose of an integrated analysis of the different factors which can explain the accidental behavior of this kind of vehicles. In this paper analyze in greater depth the validity of one of the initial hypothesis: “vans may have a different dynamic behavior from passenger cars, and thus accident rates may be higher if they are driven like a passenger car”. The basis of the working hypotheses are essentially related to the behavior of the vehicle with respect to safety distances, reaction times and braking capacities of the vehicle behind, and on the influence of loads. |
