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This paper presents an overview of the Driver Performance Data Book under preparation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It includes a brief discussion of the purpose of the Data Book, the restrictions placed on the development effort, and how it is expected that it will be used by Agency personnel and others. Sample pages from the document are reproduced to illustrate the basic format, and the Table of Contents of each section is presented to identify the major topics covered and indicate the number of pages devoted to each.

The original design-performance evaluation method of tracks and tracklaying vehicles, proposed by this writer during the WW II, was further developed and enhanced with new experience gained by many researchers. The method is based on the approximation of track action by a number of appropriate wheel actions. It is mathematically simple, and practically unique encompassing detailed track and road wheel geometry, wheel spacing, loads and load distribution together with regular soil strength parameters. It conforms methodologically with evaluation of pneumatic tires and rigid wheels, previously published in a series of SAE papers. The said papers and the present one form a concise engineering outline of Terramechanics for off-road locomotion.

The Auto/Steel Partnership Corrosion Project Team has completed a perforation corrosion test program consisting of on-vehicle field exposures and various accelerated tests. Steel sheet products with eight combinations of metallic and organic coatings were tested, utilizing a simple crevice coupon design. On-vehicle exposures were conducted in St. John's and Detroit for up to seven years to establish a real-world performance standard. Identical test specimens were exposed to the various accelerated tests, and the results were compared to the real-world standard. This report documents the results of these tests, and compares the accelerated test results (including SAE J2334, GM9540P, Ford APGE, CCT-I, ASTM B117, South Florida Modified Volvo, and Kure Beach (25-meter) exposures) to the on-vehicle tests. The results are compared in terms of five criteria: extent of corrosion, rank order of material performance, degree of correlation, acceleration factor, and control of test environment.

A unique system would solve traffic, fossil-fuel depletion, and environmental problems. Dual-mode private and commercial vehicles would be manually driven on streets and automatically controlled on maglev guideways. Busses and freight vehicles without wheels or drivers also used. Proposed guideway speeds: 100kph in cities, and 325kph between cities. System would be safer and have much higher capacity than existing highways or proposed “smart car” systems. One-third meter clearance between cars to be achieved by linear synchronous-motor propulsion. Capacity of single 100kph guideway to equal that of twelve highway lanes, and one 325kph guideway would be equivalent to forty highway lanes.