| Comment | Much work has gone into creating more aerodynamically efficient
trucks and trailers. If the brakes are not improved at the same
time then it will take more distance to get a class 8 truck and
trailer to come to a full stop if every thing else is equal except
for the aerodynamic improvement. This is a safety issue that needs
to be addressed.
An 80,000 lb truck takes 525 feet to stop from 65 mph according to
Utah Dept of Transportation.
(http://www.udot.utah.gov/trucksmart/dld/DriversEd_Manual_WEB.pdf)
A 10% aerodynamic improvement will add 52 feet to the stopping
distance, or about 3 car lengths.
Do we mandate that brake efficiency increase with aerodynamic
improvements?
What percent of aerodynamic improvement will trigger the
requirement for improved braking? 5%? 10%?
Who should do the analysis?
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