What is the braking distance of a HGV?
HGVs, trucks and lorries are now fitted with anti-lock
braking systems (ABS) to prevent skidding. However, contrary to popular belief,
anti-lock braking systems do not shorten stopping distances since they prevent
the tyres from digging into the tarmac when braking.
Instead, a HGV’s stopping distance is determined by the size
of its brakes, the condition of the brake components, the condition of the
tyres and how heavy the HGV is (for example, it would take a fully-loaded HGV
longer to stop than one with no load).
Whatever the case, a HGV will always have a longer braking
distance than a car because of its mass, despite modern HGV brakes being
incredibly powerful. For this reason, HGVs should always maintain a safe following distance between vehicles.
Braking Distances for
HGVs at 30mph
Below is a comparison if braking distances on a dry surface
for trucks and HGVs:
*please note that these are estimates and should not be
applied to real-world conditions*
·
Volvo loader weighing 8-tonnes – 10-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes unladed – 20-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes laden– 30-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes fully-loaded –
36-meters
Braking Distances for
HGVs at 50mph
·
Volvo loader weighing 8-tonnes – 18-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes unladed –
26-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes laden– 44-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes fully-loaded – 62-meters
Braking Distances for
HGVs at 70mph
·
Volvo loader weighing 8-tonnes – 35-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes unladed –
47-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes laden – 65-meters
·
Iveco truck weighing 42-tonnes fully-loaded –
78-meters
What these braking distances show is that it’s important to
give HGVs up to three times more braking space than you would a car.
What contributes to
longer braking distances?
The faster you are travelling, and the heavier your vehicle,
the longer it will take to stop. It also takes longer to stop on wet, cold and
uneven ground. In addition to these factors, the condition of the tyres and
brakes is an important consideration. Another important consideration is the size
of the brakes, and the type of tyres installed. For example, winter tyres have
shorter braking distances in cold weather than summer tyres.
Related: What to do if you have a blow out in a truck
How to make sure your
journeys are as safe as possible
We recommend you that you check your tyres before every
journey and test your brakes to ensure that they work. If you need to brake
sharply, it is recommended that you apply firm, constant pressure to the brake
pedal if your vehicle is equipped with ABS. Pumping the brake pedal is an
old-fashioned and outdated braking method that reduces the effectiveness of
ABS. If you are travelling in snow or icy conditions, you should modulate the
brake pedal to prevent skidding. It might also be beneficial to allow the
engine to brake for you.