As specialized vehicles designed for the transportation of hazardous chemicals—such as flammable and explosive substances—tank trucks are explicitly classified under the law as vehicles for the transport of dangerous goods due to the unique nature of the materials they carry. Currently, in China’s road transportation sector, traffic accidents involving vehicles transporting dangerous goods are on the rise. According to data released by the Ministry of Transport in 2022 alone, there were a total of 127 liability accidents involving dangerous goods vehicles nationwide, resulting in 63 deaths and 214 injuries. Behind these stark statistics lie countless shattered families and enormous losses of social resources.

A thorough analysis of the accident’s root causes reveals that defects in the braking system performance are one of the key factors leading to loss of control of hazardous-materials vehicles. Compared with ordinary freight vehicles, tank trucks can have a total mass exceeding 40 tons when fully loaded; as a result, their braking distance increases by 40% to 60% compared to their unloaded state. Moreover, some older vehicles still equipped with drum brakes are prone to thermal fade when descending continuous downhill slopes. Even more concerning is that certain transportation companies, in an effort to cut operating costs, illegally use refurbished brake pads or adjust the brake pressure thresholds, thereby leaving the risk of insufficient braking performance persistently unresolved.

To address such systemic risks, it is essential to establish a multi-dimensional prevention and control system. At the technological level, we should mandate the widespread adoption of smart oil tankers equipped with EBS (Electronic Braking System). This system uses pressure sensors to monitor in real time the braking performance of each axle; when it detects a deviation in braking force exceeding 15%, it automatically activates a backup braking circuit. At the regulatory level, we recommend establishing a dynamic management system—“one vehicle, one file”—and integrating braking system inspection data into the national road transport safety supervision platform. Vehicles that fail three consecutive inspections should be suspended from operation for rectification. Meanwhile, transportation companies need to enhance their driver training programs by adding simulation training on braking maneuvers under extreme weather conditions and complex road scenarios, ensuring that operators master critical skills such as “predictive braking.” Only through the coordinated efforts of technological upgrades, institutional improvements, and personnel training can we fundamentally reduce the likelihood of hazardous material transportation accidents.