Room to move: minimum distance around trucks

From any driver’s perspective, having someone else encroach on the space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front can be nothing short of infuriating.

It’s something that most of us have likely been guilty of doing, whether we’ve been in a hurry, are missing a turn-off or have squeezed into a gap during a traffic jam.

From a truck driver’s perspective, this small annoyance can turn into a real problem.

It’s no secret that it takes much longer for a truck to stop than a car, particularly for a big single or multi-trailer rig.

Too close for comfort

With around 600,000 trucks currently on Australian roads, and that number growing each year, it’s worth getting familiar with the basics.

We all know the term ‘tailgating’, and we generally know that we can be pinged by the police for doing it. However, many people don’t know that there are prescribed distances for trucks and buses.

As an example for all drivers, under the Australian Road Rules, Rule 126 Keeping a safe distance behind vehicles:
 “A driver must drive a sufficient distance behind a vehicle travelling in front of the driver so the driver can, if necessary, stop safely to avoid a collision with the vehicle.”

It gets a bit more specific regarding long vehicles under Rule 127 Keeping a minimum distance between long vehicles:

“The driver of a long vehicle must drive at least the required minimum distance behind another long vehicle travelling in front of the driver unless the driver is—

(a)  driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area, or

(b)  overtaking

Generally, the required minimum distance for long vehicles behind other long vehicles—that’s a vehicle over 7.5 metres long, including overhang—is set at 60 metres.

In the case of a road train sitting behind another road train, under New South Wales Legislation, Rule 126, for example, this distance is increased to 200 metres, and big fines can apply if you get caught too close.

Other Aussie states follow similar rules with the same distances applying. However, the Northern Territory has a bit more of a common-sense approach with no definitive distance legislation applying.

However, you can be fined for careless or dangerous driving if the authorities think you’re driving too close.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Copping a big one

The penalty for breaking the safe distance rule (Rule 126 from above) in New South Wales is a fine of $544 and the loss of three demerit points.

But, if the offence occurs in a Safe-T-Cam zone or average speed detection zone, the fine is $1,636 plus four demerit points. It’s similar for other states and territories, with the monetary figure and demerit points varying depending on local laws.

Aside from a hit to the wallet, leaving sufficient distance between vehicles, and especially between trucks, is a safety issue that deserves its due regard from drivers of both light and heavy vehicles.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

First, it’s up to all drivers to recognise that driving safely around trucks is a different practice from driving safely around other passenger vehicles, with the general rule being the more space, the better.

Second, truck drivers must also adhere to the rules to stay back at the required distance, especially the 200-metre distance required between multi-combination rigs.

Room to improve

There is always room for improvement on Aussie roads, particularly when it comes to driver behaviour.

According to this industry magazine, there have been multiple reports of truck drivers receiving large fines for situations not of their making.

In one case, a truck driver explains that a car cut them off just before a speed camera and received a $1,360 fine for driving too close to another vehicle.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

In another case, a truck driver in Melbourne reported that they were fined for travelling too close to another vehicle after a truck came across their lane after overtaking them on a hill.

But the moral of the story remains the same: stay safe and give those trucks some room.

Payload, towing capacity, tray space—take a look at this blog on how a popular dual-cab ute stacks up against a light truck.