The right moves

Manoeuvring your HGV is a difficult and skilled operation that is covered comprehensively in HGV training. It is important to be aware of the hazards and obstacles that may be in your way.

As an HGV driver, you should always observe your surroundings before carrying out any manoeuvre – and remember to use your mirrors. There are blind spots around the sides of the vehicle, which makes it more important to be aware of other road users both to either side and at the rear of your vehicle before they enter these blind spots.

Your HGV is at its most stable when travelling in a straight line. Sudden steering movements can cause:

• A loss of control
• Displacement of the load (which in turn can cause a shift in balance of your load and cause the HGV to become unstable)

Always plan and be aware of other road users before making a manoeuvre – and make sure the movement is smooth and controlled.

When overtaking, you need to plan the manoeuvre. You should look well ahead for hazards and adjust the manoeuvre appropriately. Some potential hazards to be aware of are:

• Oncoming traffic
• Bends
• Junctions
• Other vehicles overtaking
• Hills

You need to understand the speed of the vehicle in front and judge whether the overtaking manoeuvre is viable, how long it would take and the time in which you have to make the manoeuvre.