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It doesn't matter whether you're an experienced driver or you're taking to the road for the first time, large vehicles can be intimidating. Not only do they make it harder to see oncoming traffic, but these vehicles can also cause problems when you're dealing with roundabouts and bridges - not to mention adverse weather conditions. Large vehicles have unique requirements, and indeed there are some that will need to be given priority on the roads - namely buses, coaches and trams, particularly when they pull away from stops. Large emergency vehicles naturally take priority over other road users too, but in the case of the majority of large vehicles, such as company trucks, no special considerations are needed - just understanding that they will sometimes need to change lanes. Motorists can become frustrated by the lower speeds required by certain large vehicles, which can be fitted with speed limiting devices for their safety, but it's not a good idea to overtake them - especially if you can't see the road ahead. If you do overtake, make sure it's done as quickly as possible, and check whether the vehicle is a left- or right-side drive, as this will also determine the driver's line of sight. If you're not planning on overtaking, pull back to increase your separation distance and be patient Remember that it's not just you who will be suffering from blind spots - large vehicles have restricted visibility too, so if you can't see the driver in their wing mirror it's unlikely they can see you. Your car can occupy a blind spot when travelling too close behind a large vehicle, and you could also be at risk of damage such as a broken windshield if goods fall from the vehicle, or if its tires kick up loose stones from the road. There are a number of road features that large or long vehicles may take extra time traversing, or may need to span a number of lanes to carry out. These include roundabouts and sharp turns, where large vehicles often infringe on a second lane while turning, and low bridges, which may require the vehicle to move to a central lane to ensure it won't scrape on the arching roof. These vehicles may even need to stop altogether if they come across a bridge with a height restriction, making it even more imperative to keep your distance.
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