Abstract

Studies on road transport safety in France identified issues concerning the circumstances and severity of accidents involving heavy goods vehicles when load restraining was a contributing factor. To better understand the role of stowage during an accident, experimental tests that reproduce load loss caused by improper load restraining were performed. Emergency braking tests were performed on an instrumented truck carrying two loads. The first load was secured according to dimensioning rules and the second one was secured in a rudimentary but realistic way, reflecting the work habits of some operators. Two braking tests were conducted using the prepared vehicle, with measured braking decelerations of 4 and 6 m/s², respectively. In the first test, the two loads remained stable during braking. Conversely, in the second test, the rudimentary secured load slid and impacted the cabin protection, made of old tires, while the second load remained in its position. More critical scenarios will be explored to enhance understanding of the influence of load lashing quality on transport safety.