What constitutes driving too close to the vehicle in front of you? Sure it’s common knowledge that tail-gating is illegal. But if you’re driving a truck, how many metres is considered a safe driving distance?
The answer is not as simple as it seems. It depends on the length/type of heavy vehicle and what sort of road you’re travelling on.
Big Rigs was contacted recently by a Sydney driver who was fined $1636 and received four demerit points, for driving too close to a truck and dog that pulled out right in front of him.
He’s now taking that court, with a date scheduled for late November. He’s also supplied dash cam footage to prosecutors, showing the incident, which occurred on the Great Western Highway, at Little Hartley in the Blue Mountains – right near a fixed camera.
A driver contacted Big Rigs after being fined $1636 on the Great Western Highway in the Blue Mountains. Image: TfNSW
In sharing his story online, we were surprised by the number of readers who have shared a similar fate.
As one truckie explained, “I had the same thing happen to me going south through Tomingley (NSW). Had a bloke pull out in front of me just before the safety cam and got done for being only 55 metres away from him, argued the point even down to the fact that my speed was 35km/h as I had to come to an almost complete stop not to hit him, but as far as they were concerned I was too close and I had to pay. It was too hard to fight it in court as I’m from Queensland and it would’ve cost me more to fight it than to pay it.”
Another driver commented, “I got the same coming out of Melbourne. The truck in front came across after overtaking on a hill. Seems you are doomed either way, if you brake harshly you are also in the wrong, more revenue raising.”
This truck driver added, “Same happened to me. A car cut me off just when I was about to pass Peak Hill (NSW). Average speed camera, $1360 for drive close to another vehicle.”
While this driver said, “This happened to me. I took it to court, mind you I was travelling at 73km/h in an 80 zone but I was coming from Sydney heading to Mudgee. And I got done for being 20 metres away. I thought I was at a safe distance – I don’t have a tape measure attached to my truck. All they did in court was reduce the fine and that was it. Mind you my driving record is so clean, not one speeding ticket. Been driving trucks for 10 plus years. It’s all revenue raising.”
Safe driving distances are covered under the Australian Road Rules (ARRs):
• 126: Keeping a safe distance behind vehicles; and
• 127: Keeping a minimum distance between long vehicles
Under rule 126, it states, “A driver must drive a sufficient distance behind a vehicle travelling in front of the driver so the driver can, if necessary, stop safely to avoid a collision with the vehicle.”
Rule 127 however, is where things start to get more complicated. It states, “The driver of a long vehicle must drive at least the required minimum distance behind another long vehicle travelling in front of the driver, unless the driver is: (a) driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area; or (b) overtaking”.
In this instance, a long vehicle refers to any vehicle that is 7.5 metres or longer.
If you’re driving a road train that is behind a long vehicle, the general rule is to keep a distance of at least 200 metres – unless the jurisdiction you’re travelling in specifies another distance.
But if you’re in a “long vehicle” (other than a road train) and are behind another “long vehicle”, that distance between you and the driver in front of you needs to be kept to 60 metres.
Big Rigs has contacted the relevant road and enforcement authorities in each state for further detail. Here’s what they had to say.
Travelling in NSW
Under NSW Road Rule 126, for those who fail to keep the prescribed safe distance to the vehicle travelling in front of them, drivers can expect to face a fine of $544 and 3 demerit points. This rule applies on all roads in NSW to drivers of all vehicles, regardless of vehicle type.
NSW Road Rule 127 is specific to drivers of long vehicles. As per ARR 127, the same distances of 60 metres for long vehicles and 200 metres for road trains travelling behind another long vehicle apply. The penalty in NSW for breaking this rule is a fine of $544 and 3 demerit points.
In some states, penalties are significantly greater if the offence occurs in a Safe-T-Cam zone. Image: Alf Wilson
But – if the offence takes place in a Safe-T-Cam zone or average speed detection zone, a $1636 fine and 4 demerit point penalty applies.
“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Heavy vehicles require more time to stop than light vehicles, so it’s important to maintain a safe distance and be aware of blind spots,” said a Transport for NSW spokesperson.
“In NSW, drivers must keep a safe distance based on speed and conditions. For long vehicles over 7.5 metres, maintain at least 60 metres behind other long vehicles, or 200 metres for road trains.”
Travelling in Victoria
In Victoria, road rule 126 requires all drivers to keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them, so they can stop safely to avoid any potential collision. However the Department of Transport and Planning advises that, “While this rule applies to all drivers, drivers of large vehicles face a higher penalty due to the increased risks involved.
“The three-second rule is the best way to work out if you’re leaving a safe gap between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. Always drive at least three seconds from the vehicle in front of you and allow more space in wet or icy weather.”
Under ARR 126, the infringement penalty for not keeping a safe distance is $296 and 1 demerit point. If challenged in court, the maximum penalty is $988 and $1976 for large vehicles.
Road rule 127 requires drivers to leave a minimum distance of 60 metres when travelling behind long vehicles (7.5m or longer), and 200 metres when travelling behind a road train in certain circumstances (not on a multi-lane road, in a built-up area, or when overtaking). The infringement penalty for this offence is $395 and 1 demerit point. If challenged in court, the maximum penalty increases to $1976.
Travelling in Queensland
For drivers in Queensland, the penalty for breaking ARR 126 or 127 is $376 and 1 demerit point.
“Like all drivers, truckies must keep a safe distance behind the vehicle travelling in front of them so that they can stop safely and avoid a collision,” said a Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson.
“There is no prescribed distance that is considered safe as this depends on the type of vehicle, and travelling speed, as well as the road and weather conditions.
“As a general rule in good conditions, we recommend truck drivers keep at least a 4 second gap to the vehicle in front of them. This recognises that trucks are much heavier than cars and require longer to stop. In adverse conditions, even greater following distances may be required.
“On single-lane roads outside of built up areas, trucks that are longer than 7.5 metres must leave a specific distance between another truck in front. For road trains, this is 200 metres and for other trucks this is 60 metres.”
According to TMR, “This rule prevents long convoys of trucks that make it difficult for other vehicles to safely overtake. This rule does not apply on multi-lane roads, where other lanes can be used to overtake, or built-up areas, where overtaking is generally not suitable.
“If a vehicle does pull in front of a truck in a way that creates an unsafe following distance, the truck driver should safely apply their brakes and create a safe space as soon as possible.”
Travelling in South Australia
South Australia follows ARR 126 and 127, with the same safe distance rules in place: 60 metres for long vehicles and 200 metres for road trains travelling behind another long vehicle.
Breaking ARR 126 carries a penalty of $504 and 1 demerit point, and for ARR 127 the penalty is $393 and 1 demerit point.
However if the offence is committed by a heavy vehicle driver within 100 metres of a Safe-T-Cam, those penalties are greater, with fines of $779 and 1 demerit point in place for both ARR 126 and 127.
The fine relating to safe driving distance are much lower in WA than in some other states. Image: Jovannig/stock.adobe.com
Travelling in Western Australia
The WA Road Safety Commission says that Regulation 110 of the Road Traffic Code 2000 (WA) requires a minimum distance to be kept between long vehicles. It contains two different offences.
The first offence applies to the driver of any long vehicle (7.5m or longer) that is not a B-double or road train.
As the WA Road Safety Commission explained, the driver of a long vehicle when following another long vehicle, a B-double or a road train outside a built-up area must, wherever conditions permit, keep the vehicle not less than 60 m behind the other vehicle unless the vehicle is: (a) on a carriageway with two or more marked lanes available exclusively for vehicles travelling in the same direction as that in which the vehicle is travelling; or (b) overtaking or passing.
Breaking this rule incurs a $200 fine and 2 demerit points.
The second offence applies to the driver of a B-double or road train, when following a long vehicle, B-double or road train outside a built-up area.
Wherever conditions permit, the driver must remain at least 200 metres behind the vehicle in front of them. That’s unless the vehicle is on a road with two or more lanes in the same direction; or is overtaking or passing.
This offence carries a $100 fine and 1 demerit point.
Travelling in Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services told Big Rigs that while ARR 126 and 127 do apply and are relevant, there is no offence provision directly relating to those sections of the regulations.
What does that mean? If police observe a vehicle driving too close, the offence of ‘Careless Driving’ may be enforced. The penalty this incurs is a $150 fine plus a $40 victim’s levy. The offence does not incur a loss of demerit points.
In the Northern Territory, the offence could incur a $150 fine plus a $40 victim’s levy. Image: MJ Fotografie/stock.adobe.com
Travelling in Tasmania
In Tasmania, a long vehicle travelling in a road train area is required to keep a minimum distance of 200 metres to the vehicle in front of them. A long vehicle in another area is required to keep a minimum distance of 60 metres – unless they are driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area; or are overtaking. The fine for either offence (ARR 126 or 127) is $202 and 1 demerit point.
Travelling in ACT
In the Australian Capital Territory, for either offence (ARR 126 or 127), the penalty is $434 and 1 demerit point.
* Penalty details are current at the time of writing and are subject to change.
[signup]
The post The road rule leaving truck drivers short-changed appeared first on Big Rigs.
