This is something many in the trucking world have been dying to do for quite some time, start teaching caravanners a lesson about how to behave around trucks.

Comedian Jimmy Rees has teamed up with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to educate motorists on safely driving around trucks, to help save lives.

Self-confessed ‘excellent driver’ and viral comedian Jimmy Rees is joining forces with the NHVR in a bid to educate ‘not so excellent drivers’ on safely sharing the road with trucks in its latest campaign, We All Need Space.

Aimed at providing simple tips for light vehicle drivers to give trucks space when travelling on our roads, the campaign features three ‘point of view’ videos from Rees, ranging from quips about caravanners, the perils of road tripping with kids, and the reality of passing a driver’s licence test.

“While the average driver might not spend much time considering what it means to drive safely around trucks, as a dad that likes caravanning during school holidays, I have seen all sorts of drivers out there, especially when you are towing something heavy,” said Jimmy Rees. “Thankfully I have not had a run in with a heavy vehicle because I am an ‘excellent driver’, but we have all witnessed a truck that has had to slam its brakes on because a car pulls in front.

“As a driver it reinforces these trucks we share the road with are massive, and they need space.”

NHVR’s Michelle Tayler said there has never been a more important time to educate light vehicle drivers on truck safety, with around 70 per cent of serious incidents involving both heavy and light vehicles the fault of the light vehicle.

“School holidays can be a busy time on Australian roads and almost every light vehicle driver and road user out there will likely come across some type of truck on their journey,” said Michelle. “Jimmy’s videos provide an important safety message in a way that resonates with the average Aussie driver. We encourage people to educate themselves so both they, and the truck drivers, reach their destination safely.”

In the past twelve months, the national road toll has increased in almost every state and territory in Australia, with 57 of the 414 fatalities, or more than one in 10 of those recorded this year alone, shockingly involving heavy vehicle crashes.

“The latest road fatality figures are a stark reminder of how important it is to raise awareness among general road users on how to drive safely around trucks,” said Michelle. “With over 900,000 registered heavy vehicles units on Australia’s roads, it does not matter if you’re a comedian like Jimmy, an everyday car motorist, a cyclist or a pedestrian, we all need space to stay safe on the road.”

For more information on We All Need Space visit weneedspace.com.au. #weallneedspace