For many reasons, lorry drivers often do not position themselves properly in their lane, which can be devastating to others on the road due to their sheer size. And some roads are not well designed for large lorries because they are narrow and have steep edge drop-off, making any mistake a potentially fatal one.
Learning proper lane positioning may take years of experience, but it is an important skill to learn because it could prevent loads from shifting and causing an overturn or losing control of your vehicle.
Causes
Here are some common causes of poor lane positioning or conditions that could cause you to veer out of your lane:
- Difficult weather and poor visibility make it impossible to see lane, shoulder and centre lines.
- Driver distraction or inattentiveness.
- Driver inexperience.
- Road obstructions that cause swerving.
- Activities of other drivers on the road that cause swerving.
- Tyre or mechanical failure.
- Driving through roadworks with narrow lanes surrounded by barriers.
Solutions
- For newer drivers, keep in mind positioning a large lorry is different from a car. In many cases, the trailer is wider than the cab, so you need to position yourself accordingly.
- Use your mirrors to determine whether you are properly positioned in your lane.
- In poor visibility where you cannot see road lines, err on the side of caution by driving closer to the right side of the lane if possible. This is especially important if there is a lot of snow on the ground, as you will not be able to see how wide the shoulder is and whether there is a steep drop-off. Once the tyres leave the road surface, you will have a hard time gaining control of the vehicle, especially in winter.
- Be aware of the road grade and position accordingly to prevent your load from shifting.
