Alarming statistics has revealed there are critical knowledge gaps when it comes to teens driving alongside trucks.
With the April school holidays approaching and more young drivers expected to hit the road over the coming weeks, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has issued critical safety reminders regarding navigating truck blind spots, not passing turning trucks and leaving enough space when overtaking.
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To spread these crucial safety messages, the NHVR will hold an interactive activation at Westfield’s Chermside shopping centre this week (April 3 to 6), where drivers can test their road and truck knowledge through a specially created video arcade game.
NHVR executive director Michelle Tayler says the NHVR is focused on grabbing the attention of young light vehicle drivers to start conversations on road safety.
“Alarmingly, we see young drivers are vastly overrepresented when it comes to crashes involving heavy vehicles – a scenario no one wants to see,” she says.
“The NHVR surveyed 1167 young drivers over the past six months and found almost half reported they had not had any instructions on how to drive safely around trucks by their parents, guardians or driving instructors.
“Just 39 per cent of young people surveyed recalled having a question about driving trucks on their learner test, and 31 per cent didn’t know you should keep one lane free either side of a truck when it is turning.”
Tayler says with Easter holiday’s approaching, the NHVR aims to prevent situations where inexperienced drivers may put themselves in dangerous situations due to not being educated enough around heavy vehicles, which could ultimately cost them their life.
The NHVR surveyed 1167 young drivers over the last six months and found:
- Only 39 per cent had a question about driving around trucks in their learner test
- 51 per cent had done practical driving lessons with a parent, guardian or instructor where they were taught how to drive alongside trucks
- 31 per cent did not know they should keep one lane free either side of a truck when it’s turning
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