Road managers
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Vehicles are assessed under the Performance-Based Standards (PBS) scheme according to 16 minimum vehicle performance standards to ensure they are stable on the road and can turn and stop safely. Additionally, there are four infrastructure protection standards.
Below is a short description of the current standards illustrated by a diagram. For more information please refer to the PBS Standards and Vehicle Assessment Rules - November 2022 (PDF, 3.2MB).
| Longitudinal performance (low speed) | |
|---|---|
| Startability Ability to commence forward motion on specified grade |
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| Gradeability Ability to maintain forward motion on specified grade; and achieve a minimum speed on 1% grade |
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| Acceleration capability Ability to accelerate either from rest or to increase speed on a road |
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| Tracking ability on a straight path The total swept width while travelling on a straight path |
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| Directional performance (low speed) | |
|---|---|
| Low speed swept path The maximum width of the swept path in a prescribed 90° low speed turn |
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| Frontal swing Maximum lateral outswing of the front outside corner of the prime mover and trailer |
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| Tail swing Maximum lateral out-swing of the outside rear corner of the truck or trailer as the turn commences |
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| Steer tyre friction demand Maximum steer tyre friction in a prescribed low speed turn |
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| Static rollover threshold The steady-state level of lateral acceleration that a vehicle can sustain during turning without rolling over |
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| Rearward amplification Measures the ‘whip crack’ effect of a lane change manoeuvre |
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| High speed transient offtracking The lateral distance that the last-axle on the rear trailer tracks outside the path of the steer axle in a sudden evasive manoeuvre |
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| Yaw damping coefficient The rate of decay of the “sway” from the rearmost trailer after a single pulse steering movement. |
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| Infrastructure protection standards | |
|---|---|
| Pavement vertical loading Degree to which vertical forces are applied to the pavement |
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| Pavement horizontal loading Degree to which horizontal forces are applied to the pavement |
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| Tyre contact area Degree to which tyre contact pressure is distributed over the pavement |
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| Bridge loading The maximum effect on a bridge measured relative to a reference vehicle |
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