Road Safety Around Trucks
NHVR Road Safety campaign: We ALL need <SPACE> to keep you safe.
Thanks to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator we’ve got to absolute industry legends with some great messages about driving safely around trucks:
Learn more about how to share the road with heavy vehicles.
Remember, We All Need Space to keep you safe.
Glenn “Yogi” Kendall
“The message is simple – we need space to keep you safe.” That’s what outback trucker Glenn “Yogi” Kendall wants motorists to know across Australia.
The popular truckie from Katanning in Western Australia has joined forces with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to spread the message of heavy vehicle safety because after 26 years driving trucks on our roads – he really has seen it all.
“When I take my truck out on the road, I set out to come home safely.” – Yogi
As car motorists, we need to play our part in ensuring that Truckies can do just that.
Trucks with a ‘DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE’ sign on the back are legally allowed to take up more than one lane to turn at corners, intersections and roundabouts.
They can even use a right turn only lane to turn left or at a left turn only lane to turn right. Pretty crazy right? Right turning… lane.. to.. turn left.. from the.. right side? You get it – we need space!
While Yogi says that one of the best parts about the job is driving into new places and the thrill of not knowing what’s around the corner. When it comes to blind spots, not knowing what’s around the corner is also be the worst part!
Trucks have four blind spots:
- immediately in front of the truck
- beside the driver’s door
- directly behind the truck
- on the passenger’s side, from the door extending out across three lanes along the length of the truck
“Sitting up in my cab, I worry watching other motorists make dangerous decisions because they’re unaware of what’s in front, beside or behind their vehicle.” – Yogi
And while it can be easy to become frustrated when you’re ‘stuck’ behind a truck. You need to understand – trucks are heavier, longer and bigger – so remember:
Maintain a safe following distance
That’s at least two seconds behind the truck; more if the weather’s bad or it’s dark. Staying this far back means you’re more likely to see oncoming traffic and overtaking opportunities.
Don’t linger by the truck
When it looks like it’s safe to pass, start to close the gap, then indicate and pass as quickly as possible without breaking the speed limit. If you linger by the truck, you may be in their blind spot.
Don’t cut in front of the truck
Maintain your speed and only pull back in when you can see both the truck’s headlights in your rear-view mirror.
Learn more about how to share the road with heavy vehicles.
Remember, We All Need Space to keep you safe.
Casuarina ‘CJ’ Smith aka Trucking With CJ
As a child, Casuarina ‘CJ’ Smith watched her father turn to driving trucks in the quiet farming season. Seeing her dad on the road inspired the 33-year-old Adelaide local to make a career as a truck driver herself.
After seven years as a full-time ‘truckie’, and with an online following of tens of thousands who watch her daily travels, CJ has joined the NHVR’s We All Need Space road safety campaign, so that all truck drivers can get home safely every time they go to work.
CJ’s 3 tips to stay safe around trucks
“Being out on the road myself, I’m passionate about educating other motorists on how to drive responsibly around trucks.”
CJ’s top tips are:
- Don’t pull in front of a truck
- Don’t overtake a turning truck and
- Avoid truck blind spots!
A truck’s blind spots!
Trucks have four blind spots! Do you know where they are? CJ and Sonny (her very cute sidekick) are here to keep us safe by demonstrating where they are.
A truck’s blind spots are:
- Immediately in front of the truck
- Beside the driver’s door
- Directly behind the truck
- On the passengers side, from the door extending out across three lanes across the length of the truck
Oversize Loads
Oversize means they’re at least 2.5 metres wide and they take up more than half the road. That’s why they’re often accompanied by pilot or escort vehicles.
The number one rule when approaching an oversize load? Don’t panic! Slow down and wait to be shown what to do.
CREDIT: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/weallneedspace
