Unfortunately, HGVs aren’t portrayed very positively in the media. Whether it’s talking about accidents, silly mistakes or a national driver shortage, HGVs rarely come off well. Simply type HGV into Google news and you will find dozens of bad news stories. But these things don’t actually happen as often as news outlets like to claim, thanks in part to the extensive safety measures put in place on all HGVs. So today, we want to take you through what some of those are.
Speed Limiting
You will often come across vans and HGVs on the road with speed limit stickers on the back, to inform other drivers on the road that they aren’t able to exceed that speed. These limiters are put onto the engine themselves, in order to prevent the HGV from travelling at dangerous speeds. By implementing speed limits (usually a max of 70 mph), employers and business owners can ensure that their drivers will be able to control and stop their vehicles in good time, keeping the roads safe.
Limits On Active Driving Time
One of the biggest causes of accidents on the road is tiredness. On average, it kills more drivers per year than alcohol, drugs and bad weather combined. Unsurprisingly, professional drivers are most at risk of tiredness, so measures need to be put in place to make sure they aren’t ever driving overworked or overtired. For years, this went unchecked until the EU stepped in and issued some regulations around maximum driving time for any professional driver. These regulations have since been transmuted into UK law, which states that a professional driver cannot drive for more than:
- 9 hours in a day (this can be extended to 10 hours twice a week)
- 56 hours in a week
- 90 hours in any consecutive 2 weeks
These hours are all monitored through a tachograph, which drivers can use to track their own hours. Employers also use the data from tachographs to ensure that their drivers are complying with the hours regulation and not driving over their assigned times.
Improved Safety Features
Along with the traditional safety features you would find on a car, HGVs come equipped with a range of state of the art safety technology. This includes:
- Rear View Cameras
- Reversing Cameras
- Vehicle Radars
- GPS Tracking
- Digital Video Recorders (DVR)
- RFID Technology
- Auto Braking Systems
- Mirror Monitor
- General vehicle safety equipment (similar to what you would have on a car)
This range of extensive safety features are included in every HGV you see, with some vehicles being equipped with even more gadgets to ensure driver and motorist safety. These systems help prevent the typical accidents you see reported including reversing incidents, side swipes on motorways and more.
Rigorous Training
And of course, no HGV driver is allowed on the road without comprehensive, rigorous training. This not only covers the nuts and bolts of how to drive an HGV, but how to keep them safe as well. From maintenance to loading procedures and safety precautions on the road, our HGV drivers have been trained to understand exactly how to keep their vehicles safe. For more information on how we keep our HGV drivers, and you, safe, get in touch with us today.