driver-qualification-handbook-english

2You would think that other drivers would find it easy to avoid tangling with trucksor buses. But you might be surprised.It is often other drivers that get in the way of trucks and buses. For example, otherdrivers cut in front of trucks slowing down on the approach to traffic lights or drivehead on into oncoming trucks when overtaking on highways.Tragically, crashes involving heavy vehicles, particularly trucks, involve high levels ofdeath and injury. The occupants of an average car stand little chance in a collisionwith a truck which is 10 to 40 times heavier than their car. The risk of being killed ina crash with a truck are about three times higher than in one involving another car.In a crash with a truck the most likely person to be killed or seriously injured is thecar driver – a point worth remembering next time you are on the road.Reducing risk around trucks and busesTo help reduce your crash risk around heavy vehicles, you should:• Avoid driving in the blind spots of trucks and buses – heavy vehicle drivers relyon their outside mirrors so they may not see vehicles travelling close behindthem.• Avoid travelling close to trucks and buses as this blocks your view of the roadand may help hide other road users from you.• Don’t try to compete with them for the same piece of road. Give them plentyof room – particularly when they are making a turn or braking.• When passing or overtaking a truck or bus remember that it may be manytimes longer than a car and will, therefore, take longer to overtake or pass.TOO CLOSE!Driver qualification handbook 69