NHTSA's (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's) Heavy Duty Vehicle Brake Research Program Report No. 8: Comparison of the Braking Performance of a U.S. and a European Combination Vehicle

摘要

Differences in the regulations for heavy duty vehicles built in the U.S. and in Europe as well as differences in design philosophies, the way the vehicles are used and the environments in which they are operated has resulted in differences in the vehicles themselves. The report describes tests to compare the braking performance of a 'typical' U.S. and a European vehicle in a wide range of braking situations. One five axle U.S. tractor semitrailer combination and one five axle European tractor semitrailer combination were used as test vehicles. Tests were conducted with bobtail tractors (no trailer), with an empty trailer, a half loaded trailer and a fully loaded trailer. The report describes the test site, test vehicles, test procedures and the results of the tests.