Road Safety

Sharing the Road with Heavy Vehicles

The problem of sharing the road is a daily occurrence, hence the need for motorists and truck drivers to show courtesy and tolerance. Because trucks are heavy, long and wide, they are harder to manoeuvre and take more time to react to a situation than automobiles. It therefore takes more time and distance to bring a truck to a stop. As a motorist, if you are travelling in front of a truck, signal your intention to turn or change lanes early. When a truck is preparing to make a turn at an intersection, cooperate with the driver by staying behind the truck and allowing it to complete its turn without cutting in front.

Because trucks are longer and higher, it is harder for truck drivers to see other road users behind them. Always maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and the truck ahead. You can do this by making sure that you can see one of the truck's side rearview mirrors.

Whether you are a truck driver or a motorist, everyone shares the obligation to drive responsibly. Signal your intentions; obey traffic rules, road signs and traffic signals.

Sharing the Road with Heavy Vehicles

Video clips (in French only) about the various characteristics of heavy vehicles and how to share the road with them.

Introduction to sharing the road with heavy vehicles
Find out about the main constraints on driving a heavy vehicle to better understand its manoeuvres and how to drive safely near them. .

The blind spots of heavy vehicles
The blind spots of a heavy vehicle are the parts of the road that the driver cannot see because of the size of the vehicle. Heavy vehicles have blind spots in four zones. Learn to locate those zones so that you can avoid driving in them..

Passing a heavy vehicle safely and turbulence
Passing a heavy vehicle requires more time, over a greater distance, than passing an automobile. This manoeuvre also requires more vigilance due to the effects of the turbulence that surrounds that type of vehicle. .

Driving near buses and emergency vehicles
Do you know what to do when driving near school buses or emergency vehicles whose flashing or warning lights are on? Watch this video to find out..