Automated Truck Platoons on Motorways – A Contribution to the Safety on Roads

Abstract

One opportunity to manage the rising freight transportation and to optimize the utilization of motorway capacities is the concept of truck platoons. With the aid of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems it is possible to couple trucks electronically. In consequence, trucks can keep short distances between vehicles of approx. 10 meters at 50 mph and that way realize truck platoons on motorways. Electronically coupled truck platoons offer various improvements to the freight transportation problem, such as improved vehicle occupancy, gained road space, optimization of traffic flow, reduction of fuel consumption due to slipstream driving, a relief for professional drivers and finally an increase in safety due to the longitudinal and lateral guidance. In this paper, a brief introduction to the technical background of these truck platoons is given, as they were realized and tested on public roads within the project KONVOI. The main focus is on the contribution to the road safety of electronically coupled trucks on German motorways. Hence, German accident statistics will be discussed and the benefit for the society due to accident reduction will be monetized and calculated on the basis of the German Federal Traffic Route Plan.