New Training Videos Released: Truck Driver Interactions with Vulnerable Road Users

Victoria is currently experiencing a major construction boom known as the Big Build. A side effect of these large-scale infrastructure projects is the increased demand on road transport. Trucks are the lifeblood of these developments, many of which are located in highly urbanised areas.

This means trucks are frequently interacting with vulnerable road users (VRU), and it’s essential these interactions happen safely. Everyone has a role to play in keeping each other safe on the road, and these new training videos have been created to support truck drivers’
in safely sharing the road with VRUs.

VRUs are road users who travel outside of cars, buses, or trucks, typically pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The goal of the videos is to help truck drivers understand how to navigate through busy streets safely, particularly where VRUs can be present. Parts of the Victorian road network feeding into these construction projects are used by high numbers of pedestrians, bicycle riders and motorcyclists.  The new training videos offer practical safety tips on how truck drivers can safely share the road with these users.

The range of topics covered by the video include:
 truck blind spots
 Safe stopping distances
 Overtaking bicycles
 Pedestrian distraction
 The additional driving skills needed to remain safe near VRUs

They have been developed to support truck driver Toolbox Safety Talks and dedicated truck
driver training sessions, and align with the Construction Trucks and Community Safety contract clause requirements on VRU-related training.

The videos were developed as a collaboration between the National Road Safety Partnership program (NRSPP) and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, with valuable input from truck drivers representing Alex Fraser Group, Bingo, EPH, Holcim, and Toll.

The videos can be found here.