Relationship between road infrastructure characteristics and HGV accidents

In a research programme on Heavy Vehicles and Road Safety Risks led by the Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussees, data collected by a special device (VANI) were statistically analyzed in order to characterise the infrastructure’s geometrical parameters and parameters linked to road surface characteristics in different situations. Specific safety issues of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) were identified. If a HGV is involved in an accident, the risk of a fatality is multiplied by 2.6. Where an HGV and another vehicle are involved, the latter are more frequently responsible for the accident. This paper highlights some infrastructure characteristics which increase the risk of severe accidents involving a HGV, with injured people, such as slopes, bends and pavement surface conditions (dry or wet).