07/06/2026
PLEASE LEAVE SPACE AROUND TRUCKS AND HEAVY VEHICLES!
Leave Space and Stay Safe Around Heavy Vehicles
Driving on our roads means sharing them with a wide variety of vehicles, including trucks and other heavy vehicles.
Whether you are travelling in urban areas or on regional highways, understanding how to safely interact with these larger vehicles is an important part of responsible driving.
Heavy vehicles operate very differently from passenger cars. Truck drivers have limited visibility around their vehicles and require significantly more distance to stop safely.
As a result, motorists should remain aware of their surroundings and take extra care when driving near trucks.
One of the most important safety considerations is avoiding a truck’s blind spots.
Drivers should avoid travelling alongside trucks for extended periods and should never position themselves where they may be difficult for the truck driver to see. If you cannot see a truck’s side mirrors, there is a strong chance the driver cannot see you either.
Similarly, driving directly behind a truck can place you in a blind spot, reducing the driver's awareness of your presence.
When travelling in an adjacent lane, it is safer to remain well behind the truck, allowing the driver to monitor your position through their mirrors.
Patience and awareness are essential when sharing the road with heavy vehicles. A moment of impatience can quickly lead to a dangerous situation, particularly when overtaking or changing lanes around trucks.
Maintaining a safe distance is critical, as trucks can take up to 40 per cent longer to stop than passenger vehicles.
Leaving adequate space both in front of and behind heavy vehicles gives everyone more time to react and helps reduce the risk of collisions.
Truck drivers also play a vital role in maintaining road safety.
Regular mirror checks, leaving sufficient space between vehicles, indicating well in advance of manoeuvres and, where possible, keeping left to allow safer overtaking all contribute to safer roads. Advances in technology, such as blind-spot detection systems, can further improve safety for both truck drivers and other road users.
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and every driver has a role to play in creating a safer environment for all road users.
Special care is also required when encountering oversized loads.
These vehicles often transport large structures such as houses, mining equipment or wind turbine components and may occupy a substantial portion of the roadway.
Oversized loads are typically accompanied by pilot or es**rt vehicles to help manage traffic and ensure safe passage.
When approaching an oversized load from the opposite direction, drivers should pay close attention to instructions from pilot or es**rt vehicles. You may be directed to slow down, move onto the shoulder and stop until the load has passed safely.
Drivers equipped with UHF radios may also receive instructions via Channel 40. Once the oversized load has cleared the area and it is safe to proceed, normal travel can resume.
If you encounter an oversized load while travelling in the same direction, reduce your speed, maintain a safe following distance and wait for instructions. Overtaking should only occur when you are clearly signalled to do so.
When given the opportunity, complete the manoeuvre confidently and safely without exceeding the speed limit.
If no pilot or es**rt vehicle is present, overtaking should only be considered where there is a long, straight section of road and clear visibility of oncoming traffic and road conditions ahead.
Drivers should never overtake the es**rt vehicle travelling behind an oversized load and position themselves between the es**rt and the load.
Doing so creates unnecessary risks, disrupts the operation and makes it more difficult for everyone involved to perform their duties safely.
Truck drivers, pilot vehicles and es**rt operators all work together to move these loads safely. Providing them with the space they need helps protect not only those involved in the operation, but all road users sharing the road.
Graphic kindly created probono by Big Bird Design and Marketing
