近年來公路隧道的交通量（尤其是重型貨車）不斷的增加，並且隨著建造技術的改進，在許多國家已成為一不斷提升成本效益的工程方法，不僅是通過惡劣的地表，也是穿越都市地區而將地區環境衝擊降到最低的重要工程方法。當大部分的建造工程技術不斷改進的同時，載運危險物品車輛所衍生的問題迄今尚無一個令人滿意的處理方式。 一旦裝載危險物品車輛在公路隧道內發生危險事故，會對於人命、環境、隧道毀壞及運輸中斷等造成極大的代價。另一方面，限制載運危險物品之車輛通行隧道，其經濟成本將會難以衡量，進一步而言，這將強迫重型貨車去行駛其他更危險的路徑，例如經過市區或人口較稠密處，則整體的風險將反而會提升。 在相當多的國家間或各國內均認真地訂定隧道內危險物品運輸的管制規則。地區法令（local rules and regulations）的訂定、決策、責任及執法，取決於地區或地方當局及警察單位、隧道管理單位、或專家的意見，其中最重要的是，目前尚無通用的法令（general rules or regulations），可以應用在國家層級的所有公路

Road traffic (especially heavy traffic) in tunnels has continually increased over many years. In addition, with improving construction techniques, tunnels are an increasingly cost-efficient engineering solution in many countries, not only to cross difficult the earth's surface features, but also to through urban areas with minimum local environment impact. While most techniques as concerning tunnel construction and safety have been steadying improved, the problems raised by dangerous goods have not yet been deal with satisfactorily. Serious incident involved dangerous goods in a tunnel can be very costly in terms of human lives; the environment, tunnel damage and transport break up. On the other hand, useless stooping dangerous goods from tunnels may create not justified economic costs. Besides that, it may force operators to use more dangerous routes - such as through thickly populated areas - and thus increase the overall risk. The rules and regulations for the transport of dangerous goods in tunnels vary considerably among countries and even within countries. The definition of "local rules and regulations", decision taking, responsibility and implement are left to local or place authorities and politician, the tunnel owners, or "tactful" opinions. One of the important this, there are no general rules or regulations that are applicable to all road tunnels at the national level.