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Answer: It provides the braking force required by the heavy vehicle and combination
Heavy vehicles commonly use compressed-air braking systems designed for the braking demands of large vehicles.
Air brakesAnswer: The trailer can follow a different path from the tractor unit
Articulated combinations have a different turning path from rigid vehicles. The driver must allow for trailer movement and road space.
Articulated vehiclesAnswer: To prevent the vehicle from gaining excessive speed and becoming difficult to control
Excessive speed on a descent can make a heavy combination difficult to control and can place heavy demands on the braking system.
DescendingAnswer: The combination's length and blind areas create additional hazards for nearby road users
A long combination occupies more road space and can conceal or endanger smaller road users. Continuous observation helps the driver identify hazards early.
Driver observationAnswer: It may need substantial space and time to slow or stop
The combination's size, mass, speed and braking characteristics can require considerable stopping space.
Following distanceAnswer: Check mirrors and blind areas, signal, and make sure the movement is safe
The length and blind areas of a combination make observation especially important before changing lanes.
Lane changesAnswer: The load must be properly secured and distributed
A poorly secured or badly distributed load can affect stability, braking and steering and can become dangerous to other road users.
Load securityAnswer: The combination is long and may need more distance and time to accelerate and return safely to its lane
Vehicle length, acceleration, speed, traffic and available road space all affect the time and distance required to overtake safely.
OvertakingAnswer: Make sure the area behind and around the vehicle is safe and use assistance where necessary
Articulated vehicles have large blind areas and complex movement while reversing. Observation and, where necessary, a competent guide reduce risk.
ReversingAnswer: The trailer can swing into an area that was not occupied by the tractor unit
Trailer movement can affect adjacent lanes, shoulders and objects near the roadway.
Trailer swing
