It may seem like a bit of a ‘Giggle and Hoot” but the NHVR. is deadly serious about the message that Jimmy Rees is attempting to deliver in a new campaign aimed at educating drivers about how to better interact with trucks on the road.
The NHVR explained in its press release that self-confessed ‘excellent driver’ and viral comedian Jimmy Rees is joining forces with it in a bid to educate ‘not so excellent drivers’ on safely sharing the road with trucks in its latest campaign, to be known as’ We All Need Space’.
The campaign is 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,” Jimmy Rees said.
“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.”
Rees’ videos are a comical mix of educational content and real-life issues that impact Aussie drivers and will be broadcast to his more than three million followers across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
“I want to keep my family safe when we are out on the road, so if everyone is more aware of how to keep safe around trucks and give them the space they need, then that makes it safer for us all.”
We All Need Space comes at a time when the numbers of people and families travelling on Australian roads will increase, with school holidays beginning in parts of the country this week.
NHVR’s Michelle Tayler said there has never been a more important time to educate light vehicle drivers on truck safety, with around 70i 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,” Tayler said.
“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.”
Tayler said the campaign was important for all road users, regardless of how or where they were travelling these school holidays and in the future.
“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.”
We All Need Space provides simple tips for drivers on how to drive safely around oversized loads, safely overtaking trucks, how to keep out of trucks blind spots, and rules around overtaking a turning truck.
