Report on collision between two heavy goods vehicles on E39 in Heim municipality on 16 January 2024
Road traffic report 2025/01
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of failure of the brake connection and subsequent blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV (24 m). This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died. The investigation revealed deficiencies in the warning system for brake failures on trailers, which requires both vehicle manufacturers and the NPRA to work for improvement. There is also a need for increased driver competence and quality of heavy vehicle inspections. In addition, the investigation points out that the road's safety margins were too small for oncoming long HGVs.
The investigation has shown that the drivers adjusted their speed towards the curve when both HGVs were about to meet. Both vehicles had a speed of around 50 km/h at the beginning of the curve, while both braked lightly on the snow-covered road surface. NSIA believes that the HGV would have stayed on its side through the curve if the anti-lock brakes (ABS/EBS) on the trailer had been intact. The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness. The driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer’s ABS/EBS.
Current regulation (UN Regulation no. 13) allows vehicle manufacturers to have different solutions for warning that the trailer lacks ABS/EBS. NSIA's tests have shown that the manufacturers provide different warnings for the same fault-configuration in the connection, and that errors are detected in different ways. If there are several faults in the wiring to the brake connection, the warning is particularly poor. The tests have therefore revealed a considerable vulnerability when it comes to warning of trailer errors.
Although the notification of both Scania and the other vehicle manufacturers that NSIA has tested satisfy current regulations, NSIA believes that lack of ABS/EBS must be notified as a serious fault or defect, i.e. with a red warning. However, an eventual change of the regulation is a process that requires international agreement. The NPRA has suggested that the issue should be addressed in the Safer-Trucks program in Euro NCAP. This could be a first step towards a possible change in the regulations.
In addition, the various vehicle manufacturers should come together and create a common approach to how a breach in the brake connection between the tractor and the trailer should be checked and notified. NSIA also believes that there are opportunities within the current regulations to design the warning differently than what Scania and other vehicle manufacturers have chosen to date, and which would be better suited to notify the driver of a serious error. At the same time, the vehicle's limited warning and variation in warnings between different manufacturers must be compensated with increased knowledge among drivers of HGVs, as well as increased quality of HGV inspections.
The triggering factor in the accident can be attributed to the lack of ABS/EBS brakes and the subsequent loss of control in the curve. However, the investigation has also shown that the safety margins on the road were initially too small for a meeting situation between such long and heavy vehicles, considering the curvature and width of the road. The simulation conducted by NSIA confirms that two 24 m HGVs following the right-hand side at 30 km/h do not have clearance in the curve under normal driving conditions.
The road section was opened to modular vehicle combinations in 2020, and the road technical assessment for permission or not was transferred to the local road authority without physical requirements for the suitability of the road. As a result of the investigation, NSIA questions whether the road authorities have made sufficient technical assessments regarding which weights and dimensions should be permitted on their roads, both for modular HGVs, other vehicles and HGVs.
As a result of the investigation, the NSIA issues seven safety recommendations.
Photo: The police
Published: 24.01.2025
Safety recommendation
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/01T
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/02T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness, which caused the anti-lock brakes on the trailer not to function. However, the driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer's anti-lock brakes. Tests have shown that vehicle manufacturers provide different warnings for the same fault-configuration in the connection, and that errors are detected in different ways. If there are several breaches in the wiring to the brake connection, the warning is particularly poor. The tests have revealed a major vulnerability when it comes to warning of trailer errors.
The NSIA recommends that the Norwegian Automobile Importers' Association gather relevant member companies in a joint project to improve the warning to drivers in the event of deviations in the brake connection or the absence of anti-lock brakes on the trailer.
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/03T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness, which caused the anti-lock brakes on the trailer not to function. However, the driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer's anti-lock brakes. Tests have shown that vehicle manufacturers provide different warnings for the same fault-configuration in the connection, and that errors are detected in different ways. Both the truck and the trailer had faults with the brake connection both before and after they were checked at the roadside inspection without any findings. For the NPRA's inspection activities, access to fault diagnosis equipment can be an important contribution to uncovering faults with HGV’s. In addition, the inspectors must have knowledge of the vehicles' inadequate warning of trailer faults.
The NSIA recommends that the NPRA investigates the possibilities of strengthening the HGV inspectors' fault diagnosis equipment and increase knowledge about various towing vehicles' warnings about deviations in the brake connection or the absence of anti-lock brakes on the trailer.
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/04T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness, which caused the anti-lock brakes on the trailer not to function. However, the driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer's anti-lock brakes. Today's regulation allows vehicle manufacturers to have different solutions for warning that the trailer lacks ABS/EBS with subsequent limitations in driver support functions for the HGV. Although the notification of both Scania and the other manufacturers that NSIA has tested satisfy current regulations, NSIA believes that the lack of ABS/EBS on trailers must be notified as a serious error or defect, i.e. with a red warning. As a first step for a possible change in regulations, the issue can be addressed in the Safer-Truck program in Euro NCAP.
The NSIA recommends that the NPRA propose to Euro NCAP's Safer-Truck program to implement safety points for tractors' warning in the event of loss of driver support functions.
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/05T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness, which caused the anti-lock brakes on the trailer not to function. However, the driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer's anti-lock brakes. Today's regulation allows vehicle manufacturers to have different solutions for warning that the trailer lacks ABS/EBS with subsequent limitations in driver support functions for the HGV. Although the notification of both Scania and the other manufacturers that NSIA has tested satisfy current regulations, NSIA believes that the lack of ABS/EBS on trailers must be notified as a serious error or defect, i.e. with a red warning. As a first step for a possible change in regulations, the issue can be addressed in the Safer-Truck program in Euro NCAP.
The NSIA recommends the NPRA to initiate a collaboration with relevant actors, including vehicle manufacturers and the Safer-Truck program under Euro NCAP, to ensure that a lack of ABS/EBS on trailers is notified as a serious error or defect – that is, with a red warning light. On the basis of feedback from this work, it can be assessed whether at a later stage the issue should be raised with GRVA in WP.29 for a possible change in UN regulation no. 13.
Safety recommendation Road No 2025/06T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The safety margins on the road were small for a collision between such long and heavy vehicles, considering the curvature and width of the road. After the development project on "E39 Betna–Stormyra" has been completed and handed over, the old E39 is planned to be reclassified as a county road. The justification for the development project was, among other things, low road standards, local traffic safety and increased predictability, especially for long-distance transport. NSIA believes that this indicates that the usage class of the existing road should be assessed after the development project has been completed.
The NSIA recommends that Trøndelag County Authority review and reassess the usage class of the old E39 between Betna and Stormyra when it is reclassified as a county road.
Safety recommendation ROAD No 2025/07T
The collision on 16 January 2024 on the E39 road at Heim between a modular HGV and a 24 m HGV occurred as a result of blocking of the front axles of the trailer of the HGV. This caused the front part of the trailer to skid into the oncoming direction, and the driver of the modular HGV died.
The brake connection on the HGV had several internal faults in the wiring harness, which caused the anti-lock brakes on the trailer not to function. However, the driver did not receive sufficient warning on the dashboard to be able to perceive and understand that there was a serious fault with the connection to the trailer's anti-lock brakes. Today's regulation allows vehicle manufacturers to have different solutions for warning that the trailer lacks ABS/EBS with subsequent limitations in driver support functions for the HGV. This implies that HGV drivers must familiarize themselves with the individual vehicle's dashboard warning lights, as well as check that the ABS system is working on the trailer when starting.
The NSIA recommends that the NPRA change the framework for initial qualification and periodic training for professional drivers, so that new knowledge from NSIA's heavy vehicle investigations becomes part of the training.
Facts
| Location | E39, Gurålivegen, Heim municipality |
| Occurrence date | 16.01.2024 |
| Accident type | Head-on collision |
| Road class | European road |
| County | Trøndelag |
| Vehicle type | Truck and trailer, Truck and trailer |
| Type of Transportation | Freight transport |
| Accident category | Ulykke m/ kjøretøy over 7500 kg |