You have probably heard drivers rant about how frustrated they are with truck drivers who take the wide road at intersections or even travel slowly up hills. People like this have made one thing clear, namely that these truck drivers can cause problems for other people on the road when these other people are in a hurry.
However, people who have never driven a truck do not fully understand the dimensions and various regulations that exist on the road. This makes these people tend to feel annoyed with their truck drivers. However, there are several rules that truck drivers and car drivers need to know to ensure personal safety on the road. Want to know what the minimum following gap is behind a truck and some other road rules? Check it out below.
a. Highways Act
The Road Laws across Australia relating to the question of minimum following distance behind a truck are fairly consistent. As a general rule, the distance between trains behind vehicles is 200 meters and 60 meters for long vehicles running behind long vehicles. This does not include multi-lane roads, traveling in built-up areas, or when overtaking.
Traveling and your vehicle is behind a truck can be very scary. Knowing where to look or whether you can overtake is not a rule that most people know.
When driving, you are strictly prohibited from overtaking trucks or vehicles that are more than 7.5 meters long. Fortunately, understanding which vehicles are more than 7.5 meters long is simpler than you think. They will put up signs such as do not overtake turning vehicles, the location of the sign is usually at the back of the truck.
So, what should you do if the truck is about to turn? First, you need to give the truck driver the necessary space to turn. Even though the left or right turning lane looks empty, you still back up so that they (truck drivers) know and can be aware of your presence and your car behind them.
Second, you have to be patient. Wait until the truck in front of your vehicle has finished turning before you continue your journey. If a truck turns into the road you are going on, stay away from the intersection. The aim is to provide wider road space for drivers.
b. Braking Distance
HGVs and trucks require extra space between vehicles for safe braking distances. A safe braking distance is a distance where the HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) has sufficient time to brake and stop before hitting the vehicle in front if the vehicle brakes suddenly. If you are an HGV driver and want to know the safe distance, see below.
1. Truck Weight
It is important to consider your truck when maintaining a safe distance. The heavier your HGV, the greater the distance between you and the vehicle in front.
This also applies to cars. A car with a heavier load will require a longer braking distance than a car with a lighter load. This is because when braking occurs, a heavier vehicle will exert a greater pulling force.
2. Chevron Markings on the Highway
On several highways, you will find Chevron signs at a distance of about 40 meters. This is placed there to help you calculate a safe driving distance. If there is a chevron sign, it is recommended that you immediately maintain a distance of two chevrons between you and the vehicle in front of your vehicle. So, these two chevrons equal a distance of 80 meters and this is more than enough for an HGV.
3. 3 second rule
The next way you can practice to consider a safe distance is the 3 second rule. This means you have to maintain a distance of 3 seconds between you and the vehicle in front.
However, M.W. Truck Parts does not recommend this rule. This is because you keep a shorter distance between you and the vehicle in front. According to M.W. Truck Parts, 3 seconds is not enough time for an HGV to stop safely, especially for a fully loaded HGV. Therefore, M.W. Truck Parts recommends that you maintain the 5 second minimum rule.
c. Danger
You are prohibited from overtaking trucks or vehicles that are more than 7.5 meters long. The reason for this prohibition is because the turning circle is not as fast as a car. Car drivers or drivers of other vehicles may have no idea how wide a truck has to swing across the white lines on the road to make a turn.
This may cause a collision. This is the same as any type of car that has blind spots, trucks also have blind spots. However, a truck’s blind spot is larger.
One simple way to ensure that you are safe in the visible zone is to understand that if you can’t see the truck driver’s rear view mirror, then the truck driver also can’t see your vehicle behind him.
The truck did not slow down and was going as fast as other trucks on the road. Therefore, it will not be possible for the car to overtake at the specified distance.
d. Road Safety and Regulations Guide for Tourists
Are you on holiday to Australia? Want to drive in Australia? Apart from understanding some of the driving rules above, there are several other explanations for you to understand. First, before driving a vehicle, you must have a valid international driving permit. This letter needs to be accompanied by a driving license issued in your country of residence.
Second, Australians drive on the left in 2-way lanes. Ask passengers to remind you every time you leave and when you want to turn at an intersection. You should also always use pedestrian crossings and remember to look right, left, and right again when you want to cross the road.
Furthermore, all drivers and passengers in the car are required to wear seat belts. Children under 7 years old must use child restraint features that are appropriate for the child’s size and weight. Then, you are prohibited from using a cell phone while driving. This prohibition also includes making or receiving calls, sending short messages, and even playing games.
So, the minimum distance to follow behind a truck has various versions, namely 60 meters, maintaining a distance of 2 chevrons, up to the 5 second rule. However, what is certain is that you need to keep as far away as possible until you can see the rearview mirror of the vehicle in front of you.