Lorry Drivers Warned Of Dangerous Manoeuvre Ahead Of Wet Winter

A recent study has revealed the most dangerous manoeuvres to perform on the road, with a particular warning being issued for HGV drivers in preparation for the upcoming winter season.

Car parts marketplace Ovoko analysed road traffic accident data from the Department for Transport spanning 2013 to 2022 to identify the manoeuvres that result in the most collisions – and which prove most hazardous for different vehicle types.

For heavy goods vehicles, slowing or stopping has been named as the most hazardous manoeuvre, resulting in an average of 349 crashes a year.

The additional weight of lorries means that stopping distances, including reaction time, can be 50% further than a car. Combined with the fact that stopping distances then double if you are driving on a wet or icy road, the associated risks greatly increase in the winter months.

Top five riskiest manoeuvres for HGV drivers

	Manoeuvre	Average Yearly Collisions
1	Slowing or stopping	349
2	Turning right	261
3	Changing lane to left	255
4	Changing lane to right	241
5	Going ahead right-hand bend	200

Is this the same for other vehicles?

In terms of all vehicle types, slowing or stopping is considered to be the second most dangerous manoeuvre to make, accountable for a total of 15,641 collisions a year, so drivers of any vehicle should stay vigilant.

Turning right is the most dangerous manoeuvre to make on UK roads, as it’s responsible for an average of 21,347 reported road collisions each year, whilst being held up while waiting to go ranks third, resulting in 12,402 incidents yearly.

Also among the five riskiest manoeuvres for Brits is moving off from a stationary position and going ahead on a right-hand bend.

Top five riskiest manoeuvres for all vehicle types

	Manoeuvre	Average Yearly Collisions (All Vehicles)
1	Turning right	21,347
2	Slowing or stopping	15,641
3	Waiting to go - held up	12,402
4	Moving off	10,102
5	Going ahead right-hand bend	7,739

On the other end of the scale, the least risky manoeuvre for Brits came out as waiting to turn left, with just 1,065 average yearly collisions.

Commenting on the ranking, Vytas Palovis, VP of Growth at Ovoko said:
“Due to the intense training lorry drivers receive, operators of these vehicles should already be aware of the dangers associated with certain manoeuvres.

“However, other road users, like car drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, may not know just how heightened the risks are, which is what this data aims to highlight.

“Forecasters are already predicting a colder, wetter winter, with more snow and heavy rain periods expected compared with previous years.

“When driving in these conditions, make sure to take extra care, and think not only about yourself, but everyone else on the road, particularly if they are in a different vehicle to you.”