Peter Hart - design flaws in truck design, mirrors and speed limit advice
Peter Hart's presentation addresses critical safety concerns in heavy trucking, focusing on factors contributing to accidents such as brake fade, jack-knifing, and rollovers. He uses specific case studies, including the Monavale tanker crash and other incidents, to illustrate the physics involved and the importance of driver skill and training. Hart highlights the limitations of current regulations and technology, particularly concerning mirrors and braking systems, arguing for a greater emphasis on practical knowledge and consistent enforcement of speed limits on steep descents and around roundabouts. He underscores that existing systems, although improving, still require drivers to understand the fundamentals of vehicle control and road safety. The presentation questions legal outcomes in certain cases, suggesting evidence that is critical isn't always fully considered by the courts.
Executive Summary:
Peter Hart, a road safety expert, discusses critical safety issues related to heavy vehicles, particularly focusing on brake fade, rollover risks (especially at roundabouts), and problematic aspects of mirror regulations. He uses case studies of past incidents to highlight these problems and argues for a more practical and informed approach to driver training and regulatory oversight. He emphasises that while technology can assist, fundamental physics and driver understanding of those physics remain paramount for safety. A recurring theme is that the full story, or fundamental issues, are often not presented or considered during court cases following accidents.
Key Themes and Ideas:
Brake Fade on Downhill Slopes:
The Problem: Drum brakes on heavy vehicles are susceptible to brake fade, especially on long downhill runs. The drums expand with heat, and the linings lose friction. "Heavy vehicles have brakes. Drum brakes in particular fade, 3 km downhill. Roundabout at the bottom. The drums get bigger, the temperature of the linings causes the friction to go off. The performance falls off by 25 30%." Although drivers may state brakes fail, there is nearly always some braking capacity remaining.
Monaval Tanker Crash: Hart cites the Monaval tanker crash in Sydney as a prime example. A petrol tanker descending a long hill experienced brake fade and crashed at a roundabout, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Low Gear Importance: He emphasizes the critical need for drivers to use low gear and endurance brakes (engine brakes or tail shaft retarders) to control speed on descents, before the descent begins. "But you can't beat the fundamental problem. The driver has got to go slow at the top of a big hill. That is the fundamental problem. You might get something extra out of a good technology, but you can't beat the physics." The fundamental rule, Road Rule 108, states drivers must be able to descend a hill without the use of the primary brakes.
Driver Education Gap: Hart points out a critical gap in driver education: many truck drivers do not understand the practical meaning of "use low gear." He suggests this often translates to a target speed of 20 km/h at the top of steep descents.
Brake Condition: Hart presents a "four quadrant" diagram to explain brake condition and adjustment. Poor condition and adjustment can drastically reduce braking performance.
Winga Road Rollover: Another case study where brake fade led to a truck rolling over onto a car containing police officers. "So the police had a particular interest in this case."
Rollover Risks, Especially at Roundabouts:
Roundabout Design Issues: Hart criticises the design of some roundabouts, particularly those with "S-bend" configurations, as posing significant rollover risks for trucks.
Tasmanian Tanker Rollover: Highlights a case involving a tanker carrying live fish where the driver rolled over after returning from leave, a known risk factor according to a report by Arnold Dix.
Concrete Agitators: Emphasizes that concrete agitators are especially vulnerable to rollovers due to load shift. The concrete rotates within the drum, disturbing the suspension and increasing the risk. Hart recommends a 20 km/h speed limit for concrete agitators at roundabouts.
Adelaide Hills Incident: Mentions a recent incident in the Adelaide Hills involving a concrete agitator, where the driver died after losing control on a long downhill run.
Over-Reliance on, or Misuse of, Endurance Brakes
Koo Wee Rup Accident: Hart describes an accident where an empty fuel tanker jack-knifed due to the over-zealous application of an engine brake on a slightly uneven road, leading to multiple fatalities. He suggests the ABS systems of the time were unable to veto the use of the engine brake and that this crucial information was not presented in court. He claims that the under-weight state of the tanker exacerbated the danger.
Mirror Regulations and Visibility:
Substandard Mirror Rule: Hart is highly critical of Australia's mirror regulations. He highlights the lack of a robust performance standard, especially compared to European regulations.
Melbourne Freeway Incident: He discusses a tragic accident on the Monash Freeway where a young woman died after her car was sideswiped by a truck. Hart argues that the truck driver's visibility was likely impaired due to a faulty wide-angle mirror, but this issue was never addressed in court.
Flat vs. Curved Mirrors: While Australian drivers generally prefer flat mirrors for their clearer rear view, the lack of mandatory wide-angle mirrors (as mandated in Europe) creates a significant blind spot.
General Regulatory and Legal Issues:
Lack of Mandated Endurance Brakes: Endurance brakes aren't mandated, so their use depends on the driver's discretion.
Delays in Legal Cases: Hart expresses frustration at the length of time legal cases involving truck accidents take to resolve, often leaving victims' families in limbo. "And in the meantime, everyone's in limbo, including the victim's wife. We should be able to settle legal cases in two years.
Court Inefficiencies: Hart notes that the Australian legal system is adversarial, and what evidence gets presented to court, and therefore considered in court, is up to the lawyers. This can lead to important facts or technical understanding being omitted. The goal of court is to determine guilt, not necessarily to unpick the "full story" or understand the "fundamental things".
Inadequate Brake Proportionality Regulations: Hart claims regulations do not mandate brake proportioning according to the load carried by an axel.
Key Recommendations (Implied):
Improve Driver Training: Focus on practical understanding of physics and safe driving techniques, especially concerning downhill descents and roundabout navigation. Emphasize the "20 km/h rule" for steep hills and roundabouts.
Mandate and Enforce Road Rule 108: Ensure drivers can descend steep hills without relying on primary brakes.
Revise Mirror Regulations: Adopt stricter mirror regulations, potentially aligning with European standards, to eliminate blind spots.
Promote Awareness of Rollover Risks: Increase awareness of the dangers of rollovers, particularly with concrete agitators and tankers.
Review Roundabout Design Standards: Re-evaluate the design of roundabouts to minimize rollover risks for heavy vehicles.
Address Legal System Bottlenecks: Streamline legal processes to expedite the resolution of truck accident cases.
Conclusion:
Peter Hart's presentation raises serious concerns about heavy vehicle safety, highlighting the importance of driver training, robust regulations, and practical application of physics. His call for a more holistic approach to addressing these issues, particularly around brake fade, rollovers, and visibility, should be taken seriously by regulators, industry stakeholders, and the public alike.
