About 20% of road crash fatalities involve a heavy vehicle, these crashes are more likely to result in fatality or serious injury.
Drivers of heavy vehicles (trucks) may be higher off the road than most other vehicles and their mirrors tend to be a lot bigger, however, this does not mean that the drivers of these heavy vehicles have a better view than other road users and actually know what is happening around them. Heavy vehicles actually have much bigger blind spots than other light vehicles.
Heavy vehicles have four blind spots:
Even though truck drivers are very skilled at moving these big and heavy vehicles through traffic and across intersections, they cannot see what their mirrors do not show them.
Safe driving techniques
Truck drivers should leave plenty of room around the vehicle just in case they might have to brake suddenly, they should also indicate well in advance to show other road users their intended route of travel.
Drivers of these heavy vehicles should not operate these vehicles while they are distracted, fatigued or under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Any of these may impair the driver’s response time, alertness and judgement.
As an employer or manager, the best ways to manage the above could be with workplace policies and safe work procedures. Consultation with the workers and health and safety representatives, as you create these policies and safe working procedures, and provide training to all workers.
Safety tips for the rest of us
Heavy vehicles rely on their mirrors to see what is around them, if you cannot see their mirrors they cannot see you.
Heavy vehicles cannot stop as quickly as cars can, a B‑double (unloaded) at 60 km can take up to 70 metres to stop. Avoid merging in front of trucks or any other heavy vehicles.
