Towards Performance Based Standards in Sweden

Paper in proceeding, 2014

The large increase in the goods transport demands, the growing congestion problem and the environmental concerns over transportation emissions and fuel consumption, make High Capacity Transport (HCT) vehicles an attractive alternative to the conventional heavy vehicle combinations on the roads in Sweden; an alternative which would also result in significant economic benefits. In order to introduce HCT vehicles in Sweden, the existing regulations should be modified and a proper way of regulating HCT vehicles and their access to the road network should be developed to ensure that a certified HCT vehicle would not have negative effects on traffic safety, infrastructure and environment. One possible solution is application of performance based standards (PBS); this paper presents a project called “Performance Based Standards for High Capacity Transports in Sweden” which investigates applicability of PBS to Swedish conditions. The project started in November 2013 and is planned to be completed by the end of 2016.