LGV-specific signs include: weight restriction circles (vehicles over stated MAM prohibited), height restriction signs (maximum headroom — critical for bridge planning), lorry route direction signs (blue rectangles with lorry symbol), and lane restriction signs at roadworks showing lorry symbols with weight limits. Always plan your route using an HGV-specific satnav to check for restrictions.

Per Highway Code Annex 7, the correct order is: 1. Make the scene safe — warn other traffic, switch off engines, prevent smoking near fuel. 2. Call 999 and give your exact location, number of casualties, and whether dangerous goods (ADR) are involved. 3. Give first aid as best you can. Do not move injured casualties unless in immediate danger of fire or water.

LGV rollover is most commonly caused by: excessive speed on roundabouts and bends, high centre of gravity loads, adverse road camber, and empty or lightly loaded trailers. Prevention: reduce speed significantly before all bends and roundabouts — not during. Load heavy items as low as possible and be especially cautious in crosswind conditions.

The left-turn squeeze occurs when a lorry turns left and the trailer wheels cut inside the arc of the cab — a cyclist or pedestrian on the nearside can be crushed between the trailer and the kerb. To avoid it: always check close-proximity (nearside) mirrors before and throughout a left turn, signal early, wait for cyclists to clear, and turn as wide as road conditions safely allow.

Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are areas in certain UK cities — including Birmingham, Bath, and Bristol — where vehicles not meeting minimum emission standards are charged a daily fee. LGV drivers must check their vehicle's Euro emission standard before driving through CAZ cities. Vehicles meeting the Euro VI diesel standard are generally exempt from charges.

LGV drivers must meet Group 2 DVLA medical standards — significantly stricter than for car drivers. A D4 medical examination is required: when first applying, again at age 45, then every 5 years until age 65, and annually after 65. Conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and certain neurological conditions must be declared to the DVLA promptly.

Jack-knifing occurs when an articulated vehicle's drive wheels lock during heavy braking, causing the tractor unit to slide sideways while the trailer's momentum pushes it forward — folding the combination. Prevention: smooth progressive braking, avoiding excessive speed, correctly adjusted brakes on both tractor and trailer, and Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) on modern vehicles.

Transport for London's Direct Vision Standard (DVS) requires HGVs over 12 tonnes operating in Greater London to have a minimum DVS star rating based on how much the driver can directly see vulnerable road users from the cab. Vehicles with a 0-star rating must fit a Safe System — cameras, sensors, and audible warnings — to obtain a permit to operate in London.

Key eco-driving actions: smooth acceleration and braking to avoid wasting kinetic energy, maintaining correct tyre pressures (under-inflation increases fuel use by 2-3% per 10% pressure drop), avoiding unnecessary idling, using cruise control on motorways, planning optimised routes, maximising load per journey to reduce empty running, and keeping the vehicle serviced including DPF maintenance.

The current legal limit in England and Wales is 80mg per 100ml of blood — the same as for car drivers. Scotland's limit is 50mg. Note: the government launched a consultation in January 2026 to reduce England and Wales to 50mg. Regardless of the legal limit, most professional operators apply a zero-tolerance alcohol policy, and a drink-drive conviction almost always results in permanent loss of a vocational LGV licence.