Large vehicles can significantly obstruct your view of the road ahead. It’s essential to maintain a safe distance when following them, especially if you plan to overtake. If another vehicle fills the gap you’ve left, consider dropping back further to improve your visibility and ensure you’re more visible to other drivers.
In wet weather, large vehicles can generate a significant amount of spray, further limiting visibility. In such conditions, it’s advisable to increase the distance between your vehicle and the large vehicle until visibility improves. If the spray impedes your visibility to other drivers, consider using dipped headlights or rear fog lights if visibility drops below 100 meters (328 feet).
Overtaking a large vehicle carries additional risks due to its length, which increases the time required to complete the maneuver safely. Before attempting to overtake, ensure that you have sufficient visibility and space to complete the maneuver without endangering yourself or others on the road.
Maintain a safe distance and provide ample space for large vehicles as they approach or navigate through various road features, such as road junctions, crossroads, and mini-roundabouts.
Keep in mind that due to their size, large vehicles may need to swing out in the opposite direction of their intended turn to negotiate corners safely. For instance, if a large vehicle intends to turn left, it may initially move to the right to allow enough space for the turn, and vice versa.
When waiting to emerge from a minor road onto a larger road, exercise caution, especially when a large vehicle is approaching from the right. Although it might appear that there’s sufficient time to make the turn, the presence of the large vehicle could obscure the view of any overtaking vehicles, potentially leading to a hazardous situation. Therefore, it’s advisable to wait until the road is clear from all potential obstructions before proceeding.