Effects of Revised Toll‐by‐Weight Policy on Truck Overloading Behavior and Bridge Infrastructure Damage Using Weigh‐in‐Motion Data: A Comparative Study in China

Abstract

Since 2000, overloaded trucks have caused more than 50 bridges to collapse in China. In an effort to ensure the structural safety and extend the service life of the highway infrastructure, the Chinese government has proposed a series of policies in the past decade to mitigate truck overloading. This study aimed at investigating the effects of China’s recently revised toll-by-weight policy on truck overloading behavior and bridge infrastructure damage using weigh-in-motion data that spanned seven years (January 2011 to March 2018) and two successive toll-by-weight policies (with the new one implemented from August 2016), wherein truck data were measured from a typical national freeway segment. We first compared truck traffic volumes, compositions, and weight distributions under the initial and revised toll-by-weight policies. Next, we compared bridge infrastructure performance with respect to safety and fatigue based on the overloaded truck traffic observed under the initial and revised toll-by-weight policies. The results indicated that the revised toll-by-weight policy, which uses a stepwise incremental fee structure based on vehicle weight, was more effective at controlling truck overloading behavior and reducing bridge infrastructure damage than the initial toll-by-weight policy. Under the current policy, average daily truck volumes, overloaded truck proportions, and maximum truck weights decreased significantly. Concurrently, extreme and equivalent load effects for safety and fatigue assessments, respectively, decreased by an average of 20% for small- to medium-span bridges. Despite these noted improvements, overloaded truck traffic persisted, with loads often exceeding bridge design levels. This study’s findings can support future efforts by the Chinese government to further refine their toll-by-weight policies and subsequently ensure a safe and viable transportation network.

Geographical Detection of Traffic Accidents Spatial Stratified Heterogeneity and Influence Factors

“…The larger the overloading is, the more likely it is to cause major casualties [48]. During 2000-2018 in China, more than 50 bridges collapsed due to overloading of heavy trucks [49]. According to China's relevant laws, drunk driving is a "crime of dangerous driving", which will receive criminal punishment, while for the more dangerous overloading of trucks, only administrative penalties such as fines can be imposed.…”

Design and Construction of Vehicle Loading Monitoring System Using Load Sensor and GSM

“…The increment in traffic accidents which are caused by vehicle overloading has become one of the major issues for traffic management in Ghana. According to Huang (2019), a traditional static weighing system is used in weighing vehicle(s). Huang (2019) posits that there are many unsolved problems in existing weighing technologies where measuring instruments have to be installed in the concrete of roads to measure the weight of vehicles.…”

“…According to Huang (2019), a traditional static weighing system is used in weighing vehicle(s). Huang (2019) posits that there are many unsolved problems in existing weighing technologies where measuring instruments have to be installed in the concrete of roads to measure the weight of vehicles. This makes them inconvenient to maintenance.…”

“…Weighing stations are not easily accessible in Ghana for heavy duty vehicles (Ghana Highway Authority, 2018). To compound this issue, these stations are also purposely designed for only long axle vehicles (Huang, 2019).…”

“…According to statistics, 70% of traffic accidents are caused by vehicle overloading, making it one of the key issues of traffic management (Huang, 2016). Overloading is only checked at static weighing stations, which are sometimes situated far away from the loading points of vehicles (Huang, 2019). Due to this fact, truckers and trucking companies (both commercial and private) must be held to the highest safety standards.…”