Driving a truck or heavy vehicle safely
What the exam tests
This domain tests whether you can translate the physics of a heavy vehicle into safe on-road decisions: speed, gaps, braking, load security and rollover control.
Core rules
- Stopping distance rises sharply with mass and speed. A loaded truck needs far more road than a car to stop, so increase your following gap.
- Following distance: aim for at least four seconds in good, dry conditions; add more in rain, darkness, or when fully loaded.
- Speed: heavy vehicles and vehicles towing trailers are limited to 90 km/h, even where a 100 km/h sign applies. Slow further for corners, wind and poor surfaces.
- Rollover: a high centre of gravity makes sudden steering dangerous. Brake before the corner, not in it, and keep loads low and centred.
- Load security: distribute weight within axle limits, use rated restraints, and recheck straps after the first few kilometres.
- Brakes and gears: on long descents, select a low gear and use engine braking; continuous service braking can cause fade.
Worked example
A truck carrying a high, dense load approaches a tight bend at 80 km/h. The driver brakes late and turns sharply. The load shifts outward, the outside tyres load up, and the truck begins to roll. The safe approach is to slow to a stable speed before the bend, keep steering smooth, and ensure the load is restrained and low. The exam wants the reasoning, not just slow down.
Traps
- Using the two-second car gap.
- Thinking the 90 km/h limit does not apply on a 100 km/h road.
- Riding the brakes downhill instead of engine braking.
- Checking load restraints only at loading, not again later.