News & Features

HGV 'Know the Zones' Safety Campaign

Posted in General News on Monday, October 16th, 2023

National Highways has launched the second phase of the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) safety campaign with the aim of making motorists more aware of the reduced visibility that HGV drivers have and the steps that all drivers, not only HGV drivers, can take to improve road safety. All drivers should be aware of HGV drivers' limited visibility when they are approaching and overtaking. Once you have started an overtake, move safely past the HGV. Allow plenty of room and do not linger alongside the HGV. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in. Make it easy for an HGV driver to see you by moving out of areas of limited visibility as soon as it’s safe to do so. Never tailgate an HGV. It will prevent the HGV driver from seeing you and mean you can’t stop safely if there is an incident.

As part of the campaign HGV drivers are being advised to make sure their intentions are clear and visible, assume that there might be another vehicle beside them and double check, and finally, to be prepared to cancel their manoeuvre if it would present risk to others.

HGVs make up 9% of all motorway traffic and they are essential in keeping our economy running. When they are involved in accidents it not only causes delays, but it also prevents goods from reaching their destination. The presence of HGVs is set to increase by 2030 so this campaign is vitally important. Of all the miles driven by HGVs in England, two-thirds of them are driven on the strategic road network.

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