The fact of the matter is, cars cause truck crashes most of the time, the stats tell us more than 80 per cent of multi-vehicle crashes are caused by the light vehicle driver. This is why the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is urging everyone in the heavy vehicle industry to share some simple safety messages with their mates, which could save lives.
Please spread the word – don’t linger in a truck’s blind spot, cut in front of a truck, or park in truck bays.
If you know a mate who is taking their caravan out for the holidays, let them know about the importance of leaving rest stops free for heavy vehicle drivers who need to manage their fatigue.
Or if you have a mate who’s a learner driver or on their Ps, point them to our Don’t #uck with a Truck campaign. If they’ve been driving for years, they still might not know that trucks have four blind spots, so send them to our We Need Space campaign and explain where heavy vehicle blind spots are and how they can make it easier for you by avoiding those areas.
More generally, it’s about being truck aware. This means leaving space for trucks to stop and turn and only overtaking or merging when there is a long stretch of road, with full visibility.
Share these simple messages with your mates:
- Can you see a truck’s mirrors?
- Leave truck bays clear for truck drivers to rest
- Leave extra space for a heavy vehicle to turn
- Don’t steal the space in front of a heavy vehicle
- Drive to the conditions around heavy vehicles
This advice isn’t new, but it remains critical and we know the message can really sink in when you – a member of the trucking community – talk about your first-hand experiences on the roads.
The more your mates understand the safety issues heavy vehicle drivers face each day, the more they can do to prevent incidents from occurring.
So please share these reminders with friends, family and colleagues, and keep an eye on our social media channels for more information.
Stay safe.