National Highways Launches New Phase of HGV Safety Campaign

National Highways has unveiled the next phase of its road safety campaign aimed at helping drivers better understand how to share the road safely with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

Large vehicles such as trucks and HGVs are significantly longer, heavier, and more powerful than standard cars. Because of their size and weight, they require greater stopping distances, wider turning space, and extra consideration from other road users. Yet many drivers still underestimate just how different these vehicles are to drive alongside.

Understanding the Risks

One of the biggest challenges is visibility. HGVs have multiple blind spots — areas around the vehicle where drivers simply cannot see other road users. Many motorists are unaware of these limited vision zones or misjudge the position and movement of large vehicles.

The consequences can be severe. Due to the substantial difference in weight between HGVs and cars, collisions involving large goods vehicles are far more likely to result in serious injury or fatalities.

Know the Zones

At the heart of the campaign is a clear and memorable message: Know the Zones.

The initiative is designed to improve awareness of HGV blind spots and vehicle limitations, encouraging safer behaviour from all road users. The core advice is simple — pass safely and don’t linger around large vehicles.

The campaign highlights four key zones of limited vision around HGVs and reinforces essential safety guidance for drivers:

• Stay visible
• Overtake with care
• Don’t tailgate

For HGV drivers, the message is equally important: be predictable and ensure intentions are clearly signalled and visible to others on the road.

Resources and Reach

To support the campaign, National Highways has produced a range of creative materials, including videos, posters, and social media content. A dedicated campaign page provides downloadable assets and a stakeholder toolkit to help organisations amplify the message.

The campaign will be promoted widely across radio, social media, billboards, posters, and at events nationwide — reinforcing the message that road safety is a shared responsibility.

As traffic volumes continue to rise, understanding how to safely drive around heavy goods vehicles isn’t just good practice — it’s essential.