HEAVY VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION TRENDS IN ASIA

Governments and manufacturers worldwide continue to design and develop safety and efficiency improvements for transportation.

About 10,000 people die every year in Japan as a result of traffic accidents. In the past 20 years, the number of vehicles on Japanese roads has nearly tripled, but the increase in traffic-related deaths has been less than 1%. Japan credits this record to continuous study and improvement of vehicle safety. However, leaders are striving for much higher safety levels.

In March 1992, the Ministry of Transportation commissioned a study of heavy trucks and buses for safety improvements. Many polls and surveys of transportation industry personnel were conducted by government agencies and by suppliers to the heavy truck and bus markets. From the study, priorities will be established for the development and implementation of new technologies to improve overall vehicle operation and safety.