Experimental study on comparison of kinematic traffic characteristics of a road tractor and a passenger car at sub-zero temperatures

Experimental studies on kinematic characteristics of the vehicle are usually performed using passenger cars, which is related to their availability and the ability to conduct tests on public roads. Road tests using trucks, due to the increased need for security, are performed less frequently and usually on special routes or public roads temporarily excluded from the traffic. The lack of tests performed together on various types of vehicles in similar environmental and weather conditions limits the possibility of direct comparison of the obtained results. Road tests conducted in December 2012 enabled the acquisition and recording of longitudinal acceleration values of passenger car and truck under identified environmental and surface conditions. Experimental studies were conducted on kinematic characteristics of the vehicle and a comparative analysis of the intensity of acceleration and breaking of a new passenger car and of a truck tractor without a trailer in sub-zero temperatures was carried out.