Title: An investigation on the effectiveness of mandatory periodic truck safety inspection policy in China: a case study of Guangdong province

Authors: Wenxue Cai; Xiaoxi Hong; Shuyu Lin; Yimiao Gu; Hui Shan Loh

Addresses: Department of Electronic Business, South China University of Technology, Building B10, SCUT, 382 Outer Ring East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu, Guangzhou, 510006, China ' Department of Electronic Business, South China University of Technology, Building B10, SCUT, 382 Outer Ring East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu, Guangzhou, 510006, China ' Department of Electronic Business, South China University of Technology, Building B10, SCUT, 382 Outer Ring East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu, Guangzhou, 510006, China ' Department of Electronic Business, South China University of Technology, Building B10, SCUT, 382 Outer Ring East Road, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu, Guangzhou, 510006, China ' School of Business, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 463 Clementi Road, 599494, Singapore

Abstract: This study empirically evaluates China's periodic truck safety inspection policies by investigating the cyclic variation of truck performance based on the inspection data classified by truck types in Guangdong province of China from 2010 to 2017. The annual performance of different truck types is analysed and the cyclic variation of truck performance is evaluated over eight consecutive years. Then, the costs of the periodic inspection scheme and the advantages of prolonging the inspection intervals of small trucks and medium trucks are discussed. Quantitative data is also used to reveal the potential associations between the decay rate of truck performance and overweight. The study found that for light and medium trucks within their first five years of operation, the inspection intervals can be extended from one to four years. This research provides useful recommendations for policymakers and government departments when designing effective truck safety inspection schemes in China and beyond.

Keywords: truck inspection; periodic inspection; inspection policy; truck performance; safety performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2023.133375

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2023 Vol.30 No.4, pp.500 - 523

Received: 17 Oct 2022
Accepted: 17 Oct 2022
Published online: 14 Sep 2023 *

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