EFFECT OF NEW AXLE LOAD REGULATION ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OCCUPANT SAFETY

Commercial vehicle industry is the wheel of Indian economy and gives the maximum support to our GDP. Although safety of Indian truck drivers had been the least considered parameter till the AIS-029 regulation has forced in. with the norm came into picture OEM needs to ensure the measures for the safety of the drivers during accidents. This regulation talks about the cabin strength to absorb energy generated during accident due to impact and same depends upon vehicle gross vehicle weight (GVW), front axle weight (FAW) and vehicle payload. All the OEMs have ensured truck driver or truck occupants safety by means of cabin strength and safety measures during the regulation implementation. Now with the new vehicle weight norm, again the safety is in doubt. Government has implemented the regulation without mentioning anything about cabin crash and occupant safety. Even existing vehicles are also allowed to load up to the new maximum limit. This paper reviews in detail, the effect of new vehicle load regulation on cabin crash safety test norms and occupant safety and also recommends the methodology to save both time and cost involved in new cabin development by means of current design optimization.