DKT- If you cannot see the truck's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
- Do not cut in front of a truck after overtaking. Wait until you can see its whole front in your mirror.
- A Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle sign means you must not overtake alongside a turning truck.
- Trucks are longer and heavier, so they take longer to stop and to accelerate.
Blind spots
Every vehicle has blind spots, and a truck's are larger. If you cannot see the truck's external mirrors, the driver cannot see you, so treat that spot as a place not to stay. Either accelerate to overtake if it is safe, or drop back to where you can be seen. This matters even more when the truck is turning.
Do not cut in
A truck needs a long distance to stop. When you overtake or change lanes, do not pull into the empty space directly in front of it, which is its safety margin. If you cannot see the whole front of the truck in your rear-vision mirror, you may not have left it enough room to stop if traffic ahead halts suddenly. Leave plenty of room, especially when turning near a truck. See following distance.
Trucks and deliveries
- Expect trucks to enter or leave driveways, roads and loading docks. Be patient and allow room for them to swing in or out.
- If you can, make eye contact so the driver knows you have seen them.
- Trucks accelerate slowly, especially when starting, merging or climbing a hill. If one pulls into traffic ahead, be ready to overtake if safe or to slow down.
Signs and warnings on trucks
| Sign | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Oversize (sometimes with flashing amber lights) | The truck or load is wider or longer than usual and may overhang into your lane. Adjust your driving. Pilot vehicles or VicRoads Transport Safety vehicles may accompany it. |
| Long Vehicle | The truck is much longer than normal. It takes longer to overtake and needs extra room to stop behind you. Make sure you can see its whole front in your mirror before pulling in. |
| Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle | The truck is at least 7.5 metres long and may need part or all of two lanes to turn. Do not overtake alongside it while it turns. |
| Reflective portable warning triangles | A broken-down truck or fallen load is ahead. Slow down and pass carefully. |
See turning left and right for how trucks may use more than one lane, and overtaking safely for judging the length of a long vehicle.
Based on the Victorian Road to Solo Driving handbook and the VicRoads learner and probationary pages. Rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.
Quick answers
Why shouldn't you pull in right in front of a truck?
Trucks are long and heavy and need more time to stop. The empty space in front of them is their safety margin, and cutting into it can leave no room to stop if traffic ahead halts.
What does the Do Not Overtake Turning Vehicle sign mean?
The truck is at least 7.5 metres long and may use part or all of two lanes to turn. You must not overtake alongside it while it is turning.