Road Safety, Hazard Perception and Accident Prevention
Hazard perception is the skill of seeing risk early and planning a response. You must scan far ahead, use mirrors frequently, and maintain a space cushion around the vehicle. Key hazards for heavy vehicles include: vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists) in blind spots, especially on the left; junctions where other drivers misjudge your speed and length; overtaking manoeuvres that need more time and distance; and poor visibility in rain, mist or at night.
Understand stopping distance (thinking distance plus braking distance), the effect of load and road surface, and the danger of fatigue. Tiredness is a major cause of heavy-vehicle crashes; take breaks and do not drive when sleepy. Speed must always be appropriate to conditions, not merely within the limit. Defensive driving means anticipating others' mistakes and leaving an escape route.
Traps: questions that ask for the 'safest' action when a hazard appears - the answer is usually to slow down and increase space, not to swerve. Also watch for blind-spot questions: a lorry's left side and directly behind are the most dangerous zones.
Worked example: approaching a junction where a car waits to pull out, ease off the accelerator and cover the brake; if the driver looks at your cab but not your length, assume they may pull out and be ready to stop.