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Charlotte Haye 25th August 2017

Safety Controls In HGVs

If you type ‘HGV’ into Google news, you will be inundated with stories of HGV accidents. HGV accidents tend to be a bit more dramatic than standard vehicle accidents and because HGVs are considered very dangerous machines, it is often highly reported on. But these incidents aren’t as frequent as the media makes them appear, mainly because there are so many safety checks and controls in place to avoid them. Today, we wanted to share with you just some of the safety controls in place in the HGV industry to prevent accidents and keep everyone safe on the road.

Speed Limiters

If you have ever driven behind an HGV, you may have noticed the numbers in white and red circles on the back of their vehicles. These numbers indicate the speed the vehicle is limited to travel and is designed to let other motorists know and move accordingly. Many HGVs have speed limiters in place on their engines, which prevent them from going above a certain speed (usually 70 mph). Speed limiters mean that HGVs can never travel at dangerously fast speeds, keeping the driver in control and at a braking distance at all times and ensuring the safety of motorists around them.

Enforced Driving Time Limits

One of the biggest causes of accidents on the road is tiredness. On average, it kills more drivers per year than alcohol, drugs or bad weather combined. Unsurprisingly, professional drivers are most at risk for tiredness, so measures need to be put in place to make sure they aren’t ever driving overworked or overtired. There are a set of very strict regulations around how long drivers can be on the road for in a single shift, a 24 hour period and a 2 week period. The driving regulations state that an HGV driver must not drive 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

In order to track this, all driving is recorded by a tachograph. This data is utilised by both drivers to track their hours and time their breaks, and employers to measure their drivers’ performance. These regulations mean that HGV drivers are never driving tired and are always alert and safe on the road.

Safety Technologies

As well as these regulations, HGVs are also equipped with a variety of safety features and technologies that help HGV drivers stay safe on the road. These technologies include:

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 comprehensive range of safety features is designed specifically for HGVs in order to promote safety at all times. They help avoid accidents and incidents such as; collisions because of tight spaces, reversing accidents, goods being stolen, cyclist collisions, sideswipes on motorways and more.

Training

And then, of course, there is the training. At Easy as HGV, we work with aspiring HGV drivers to help them understand their responsibilities as an HGV driver on England’s roads and how they can uphold the professional values every day. This includes intensive safety training and comprehensive testing before they are permitted to drive an HGV on the road. HGV training is heavily regulated and specifically designed to promote vehicle safety at every stage of use, from loading and transport to arriving at its final destination. To find out more about how we help HGV drivers operate as safely as possible, get in touch with us today.

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