Following a serious road traffic collision that resulted in potential life changing injuries to a member of the public and a lucky escape for a contracted haulier driver, a review of the two incidents identified the following.

Key Factors:

• The drivers were used to the vehicle they were operating.
• There were no defects on either vehicle.
• The incidents took place within 2-3 hours of starting their shifts and the drivers were fully rested, not fatigued, or distracted.
• The drivers were not under any undue pressure to complete their loads.
• Both drivers were driving well within the speed limit.

Key Factors: Incident 1

• The weather was very foggy and visibility poor.
• The tipper was trying to cross a dual carriageway in these conditions.

Key Factors: Incident 2

• The HGV driver was relatively inexperienced.
• The driver had moved to the nearside to ensure it did not make wing mirror contact with the other oncoming HGV. In doing so the nearside tyres went on a saft grass verge.
• The driver corrected this but quickly went across the other carriage way and onto the soft grass verge/bank that sloped away causing the tipper to roll over onto its roof.
• The driver was not hurt because they we wearing their seatbelt and had securely stored items within the cab.

• Drivers to take extra caution in poor weather especially when crossing high speed network carriageways in the fog, use vehicle lights in poor visibility and ensure conspicuity markings and tailboards are regularly cleaned.


• Drivers to be cautious of soft verges and take care not to overreact or over compensate.


• When driving expect the unexpected.


• Hauliers to remind their drivers of winter working driving hazards.