Serious road issue inexperienced drivers don’t know

A shocking new study has highlighted a big gap in the knowledge of inexperienced drivers and it could have serious consequences.

Young and inexperienced drivers are putting their lives at risk according to new research.

Nearly half of L- and P-plate drivers admitted to not knowing the correct way to navigate around a turning truck.

Alarmingly 48 per cent of inexperienced drivers aged between 16 and 25 didn’t know to leave a lane either side of a truck free when it’s turning.

Many young drivers don’t know how to safely drive near a turning truck.

Road fatalities with heavy vehicles is a serious issue, with drivers of passenger cars often bearing the brunt of the consequences.

The latest road trauma statistics from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) showed there were 185 fatalities involving heavy vehicles on Australian roads in 2022.

The BITRE’s latest “Road Trauma Involving Heavy Vehicles Annual Summary” shows that passenger car occupants and pedestrians made up about 75 per cent of deaths in heavy vehicle accidents.

Driver’s should not drive next to a truck while it is turning. Picture Emily Barker.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) spokeswoman, Michelle Tayler, says the research shows there has been a slight improvement in young drivers’ knowledge from last year when the organisation launched its “Don’t #%ck With A Truck” campaign.

“Young drivers have less experience behind the wheel and could put themselves and others at risk if they don’t understand and follow the rules for driving safely around trucks,” says Ms Tayler.

“It’s important young drivers don’t linger in a truck’s blind spots – a truck driver can’t see you if you’re beside their driver door, directly behind or in front of them, or beside their passenger’s door extending out across three lanes.”

185 people lost their lives in an accident involving a heavy vehicle. Picture: David Swift.

The research also identified some other areas of concern. Many inexperienced drivers don’t think indicating and overtaking a truck quickly was part of manoeuvring around a heavy vehicle safely.

Again more than one in five didn’t realise you should only pull in front of a truck if you can see its headlights in your rear vision mirror.

“Trucks take a lot longer to slow down and stop – a prime mover semi-trailer truck travelling 80 km/h takes 116 metres to safely stop. If you’re merging or pulling in front of a truck, give it 3 to 4 times more space than you would give a car,” says Ms Tayler.