Driving a lorry: space, turns and braking

By the end of this topic you can

• You can position a lorry to allow for its swept path on bends, junctions and roundabouts.
• You can use mirrors to cover the lorry's blind spots, especially on the nearside.
• You can apply the correct lorry speed limits in England, Wales and Scotland.
• You can keep a safe following distance that allows for the lorry's weight.
• You can explain which motorway lanes a large goods vehicle may use.

What you need to know and understand

• When a long vehicle turns, the rear wheels follow a tighter line than the front, so the back cuts in towards the kerb.
• Other drivers are told to give long vehicles room, as they may use the whole width of the road or straddle lanes to turn (Highway Code rules 170 and 187).
• Under the hierarchy of road users, those in charge of vehicles that can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce danger (Highway Code rule H1).
• Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes in England and Wales are limited to 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 60 mph on motorways.
• In Scotland, the limits for goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are 40 mph on single carriageways, 50 mph on dual carriageways and 60 mph on motorways.
• Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes must not use the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes, except in prescribed circumstances (Highway Code rule 265).
• Large vehicles need more distance to stop, and in a tunnel should leave a four-second gap (Highway Code rule 126).

Swept path: why lorries swing wide

A lorry's rear wheels take a shorter path than the front wheels round a corner. If you steer like a car, the back of the trailer will mount the kerb or hit a post, a sign or a person standing on the corner.

To allow for this, you often need to go further forward before you start turning and may need to use more of the road. Do this only when you are sure it is safe, and keep checking the nearside mirror throughout the turn.

1. Plan early and slow down well before the junction.
2. Check mirrors and signal in good time so others know your intentions.
3. Position to give the rear wheels room, without leaving a gap a cyclist could ride into.
4. Drive forward far enough before steering.
5. Watch the nearside mirror as the trailer follows you round, and stop if anyone appears.

Blind spots and vulnerable road users

Lorries have large blind spots directly in front of the cab, along the nearside and behind. Pedestrians and cyclists close to the cab can be completely hidden. Most lorries have extra mirrors to cover these areas, and many have cameras and sensors, but you still need to look in every mirror before moving off, turning or changing lanes. The site's guide to driving near lorries and buses shows the same blind spots from a cyclist's or car driver's point of view.

Speed, weight and stopping

A loaded lorry carries huge momentum. It takes much longer to stop than a car, and brakes can overheat on long downhill stretches, so use a lower gear and any retarder or exhaust brake your vehicle has. Leave a bigger gap than the two-second rule used for cars, and more in wet or icy weather. The site's page on stopping distances and the two-second rule explains the basics you then build on.

Most heavy lorries are fitted with a speed limiter. This does not change the legal limits: on roads where the limit is lower, you must stick to it.

Height, width and the route ahead

Bridge strikes by lorries cause damage and delays and can be deadly. Know your vehicle's height, including the trailer and load, and plan your route using lorry-friendly maps or sat navs. Watch for height and weight limit signs, weak bridges and narrow roads. Never try to 'squeeze under' a bridge that is marked lower than your vehicle.

Common mistakes

• Turning too early and cutting the corner. Drive further forward before steering.
• Leaving a big gap on the nearside before a left turn, which invites a cyclist to ride into it.
• Following too closely because the lorry 'feels slow'. Keep a much larger gap than in a car.
• Using the right-hand lane of a three-lane motorway. Lorries over 7.5 tonnes must not use it except in prescribed circumstances.
• Not knowing your height. Check it every time the vehicle, trailer or load changes.

Test yourself: Driving a lorry: space, turns and braking

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Driving Near Lorries and Buses
• Stopping Distances UK