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Difficulty: HardLarge Goods Vehicles (LGVs)

On an exposed dual carriageway in wet conditions, you intend to overtake a long articulated lorry that is throwing up heavy spray. What safety precaution should you take when executing this manoeuvre?

  1. A
    Move in close behind the trailer to reduce wind resistance before abruptly switching into the overtaking lane
  2. Drop well back to expand your forward view and stay clear of spray before pulling out to passAnswer
  3. C
    Flash your headlights repeatedly until the lorry driver signals with an indicator that you can pass
  4. D
    Accelerate past quickly and pull back immediately in front of the lorry's front bumper to clear the overtaking lane

Answer

Drop well back to expand your forward view and stay clear of spray before pulling out to pass
Dropping well back before initiating an overtake around a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) in wet weather is vital because it moves your vehicle out of the dense spray plume, keeps you visible in the lorry's exterior side mirrors, and gives you a much wider forward angle to see whether the overtaking lane and road ahead are completely clear.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the hazards associated with following and overtaking large goods vehicles in the rain
Identify that large articulated lorries generate dense tyre spray, possess extensive blind spots, and drastically block forward vision.
Overtaking safely requires adequate forward visibility and clear perception of hazards in both lanes.
2
Determine the correct following distance and road positioning before pulling out
Increase separation distance to at least double the normal dry-weather gap (four seconds or more).
Dropping well back allows you to see around the trailer, keeps your windscreen out of the direct plume of spray, and ensures your vehicle remains visible in the lorry's exterior mirrors.
3
Execute the overtake with proper speed management, wiper settings, and safe re-entry spacing
Move smoothly into the overtaking lane with wipers set to high speed, maintain a steady pass, and only return to the left lane once the entire front cab is clearly visible in your interior rear-view mirror.
Cutting in too early encroaches on the lorry's blind spot and compromises the heavy vehicle's extended stopping distance in the wet.

Key Concept

Safe following separation, visibility management, and blind-spot avoidance when overtaking large goods vehicles in adverse weather
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs)

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