Commercial Vehicle Safety Technology and Practice in Europe

FHWA-PL-00-010

The United States and countries of the Europe Union share many of the same concerns and face similar challenges about commercial vehicle safety issues. This summary report describes the September 1998 technology transfer scan tour to four European countries to learn how these countries are addressing their own safety issues, even as they comply with the increasing centralization of rules and regulations enacted by the European Commission. The nine-member scan tour team that visited France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands represented the FHWA, the Virginia and Minnesota State Departments of Transportation, the Owner/Operators and Independent Drivers Association, and independent transportation consultants. The key areas examined by the team were human resources, vehicle safety systems, and regulations. The report also includes recommendations and implementation strategies.

As this report demonstrates, team member were particularly interested in the European's integrated approach to driver training and preparation, the role of truck manufacturers in assessing crash causes and statistics to improve safety design, and the public/private partnerships that enhance training and safety, and augment regulatory policies and practices. The team believes that these practices provide valuable models for fresh opportunities for public/private cooperation in the areas of safety enhancement, regulatory polices, and standards enforcement for the U.S. motor carrier industry

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