Runaway Trucks in Pennsylvania

This paper addresses the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s efforts to develop runaway truck countermea’sure programs and facilities. A system has been developed to allocate Pennsylvania’s limited highway funding to the most serious problem areas. A summary of Pennsylvania’s truck accident experience and a brief analysis of the driver-roadway-vehicle interaction is given. This program is described as it is being implemented in one highway district which has severe grade problems.

A specific example of a runaway truck escape facility is described in detail. The design, construction methodology, costs, and annual maintenance requirements for this sandpile-type facility are detailed. A full scale trial using a loaded tandem dump truck is described, including films of the trial. Additionally, the field performance of an actual runaway truck facility is given, including details such as the truck penetration into a pile, estimated speed at entry, deceleration performance, truck removal and clean up and reshaping experience.