Young drivers have been warned they could face new road rules as part of a fresh safety initiative to crack down on the number of motorists involved in collisions with larger vehicles.
The campaign aims to educate motorists about the dangers of driving near Heavy Goods Vehicles, with particular focus on younger road users who face disproportionate risks.
The need for the safety initiative follows research which found that drivers aged below 30 represent a quarter of all motorists who suffer fatal or severe injuries in crashes with HGVs.
The campaign forms part of a new collaboration between National Highways and Red Driving Training, focusing on educating motorists on how to navigate safely near large commercial vehicles.
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Young motorists were found to be more at risk of collisions with HGVs
The programme, titled “Know the HGV Zones”, particularly targets those who have recently obtained their driving licences.
The initiative highlights four significant areas where driver visibility is severely restricted in lorries. These blind spots have been known to create dangerous situations when motorists fail to position themselves appropriately while sharing roads with these substantial vehicles.
The partnership seeks to educate motorists about safe practices when encountering lorries on roads. Key recommendations include exercising caution while overtaking, maintaining adequate distance to avoid following too closely, and ensuring visibility by remaining outside areas where lorry drivers cannot see other vehicles.
Motorists have been advised to signal their intentions clearly and well in advance when manoeuvring near these large vehicles. The guidance emphasises that understanding where visibility limitations exist around lorries can significantly improve road safety outcomes.
National Highways launched a campaign to help educate young drivers on HGV safety
The campaign addresses a critical gap in driver education, as many motorists feel unprepared for encounters with commercial vehicles.
By promoting awareness of proper positioning and behaviour around lorries, the initiative aims to reduce the disproportionate number of serious incidents involving younger road users.
The four restricted visibility areas around lorries include zones at the front, rear and both sides of these vehicles. When positioned too closely ahead of a lorry, motorists become invisible to drivers seated in elevated cab positions.
The rear blind spot extends considerably behind lorries, requiring motorists to maintain distances of up to three vehicle lengths to remain visible in mirrors. Guidance by National Highways suggested that the inability to view a lorry’s external mirrors indicates the driver cannot see other vehicles.
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Side zones present particular hazards, with the left area requiring special caution as undertaking remains prohibited under the Highway Code.
The right-side blind spot demands careful consideration during overtaking manoeuvres, as passing lengthy vehicles requires additional time and space.
Recent findings have exposed significant gaps in motorway preparation among newly qualified motorists. Research conducted discovered that 53 per cent of drivers had “zero motorway experience” before obtaining their licences.
This inexperience manifests itself in concerning ways, with 41 per cent of recently qualified motorists reporting feelings of panic when lorries approach.
HGVs have several blind spots while driving
The statistics emerge despite legislative changes in 2018 permitting learner drivers to practice on motorways alongside qualified instructors in dual-controlled vehicles.
Colin Stevenson, who leads road safety information at National Highways, acknowledged that proximity to large commercial vehicles can feel daunting for motorists. “Driving near large vehicles like HGVs can be intimidating. That’s why we’re urging all new drivers to understand how to stay safe around them,” he stated.
He stated that awareness of visibility limitations, maintaining appropriate distances and ensuring lorry drivers can see other vehicles “can make all the difference in helping everyone get to their destination safely.”
Red Driver Training’s chief executive, Seb Goldin, stressed his organisation’s commitment to comprehensive road education. “Experience is a major factor in driving safely on the motorway and we would encourage all new or learner drivers to consider additional training, which involves motorway driving with an approved instructor,” he advised.