Keep safe around trucks

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy to 2031 sets out the South Australian Government’s commitment to reduce lives lost and serious injuries on our roads.

A key action in South Australia’s Road Safety Action Plan (2023-2025) is educating road users about how to share the road safely with heavy vehicles.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has partnered with Australian icons, including comedian Jimmy Rees, ex rugby league player Sam Thaiday and South Australian truck driver Casuarina ‘CJ’ Smith, to promote how to safely share the road with trucks.

The We All Need Space campaign:

highlights how to safely share metro and regional roads with trucks and buses
identifies a truck’s four blind spots
details how to safely overtake a truck, what to do when coming across an oversize load, and more.

The Department for Infrastructure and Transport is supporting the NHVR to raise awareness of this important road safety message to South Australian road users.

No matter what type of road user you are, We All Need Space to keep safe.

Give trucks space

If you encounter a truck when on the road, it is essential to know what you should do to help keep everyone safe:

Trucks have four blind spots, and it’s important to avoid them. They are:
- immediately in front of the truck
- directly behind the truck
- beside the driver’s door; and
- on the passenger’s side, from the door extending across three lanes along the length of the truck.
If you need to overtake a truck, make sure you are far enough behind that the truck can see you. Indicate early and, when safe to do so, pass quickly without exceeding the speed limit or lingering in a blind spot. Wait until you can see both of the truck’s headlights in your rearview mirror before pulling back in.
If a truck is overtaking you, don’t accelerate. Maintain your speed or be prepared to slow down if necessary.
An oversize load will often be accompanied by a pilot vehicle or police escort. Slow down and follow their instructions to pass each other safely. If you have an ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio, use Channel 40 to communicate with them.
Trucks and other vehicles that are over 7.5 metres long and have a DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLE sign on the back are legally allowed to take up more than one lane to turn at corners, intersections and roundabouts.

Watch the videos below to help you stay safe around trucks.

Find more tips for sharing the road with trucks at the We All Need Space website.