An analysis of log truck stability in 1997 identified their poor stability performance and their high incidence of rollover crashes. A number of measures have been introduced since then to reduce the number of these crashes. Of these, the vehicle-related measures, including the load height restriction, the development of a points system for assessing stability and changes to the dimensions and mass regulations for all vehicles have been successful. Many new logging vehicles have considerably better stability performance than their predecessors do. The success of the human-related measures has been mixed. The driver education programme appears to have been effective in the short-term but its benefits did not last, the attempts to reduce speeds in curves seem to have had no impact at all, while the measures to improve the safety management of the operators have generated an encouraging response but it is too soon to determine their effectiveness. Overall as a package the measures have resulted in a reduction in the rollover crash rate of the log truck fleet. On going developments should see further improvements over the next few years. The one obvious area where potential gains seem likely and yet where there is little progress is in reducing speeds particularly on curves.
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