A high-sided lorry can block your view, create a sudden rush of air and make an ordinary road feel much narrower. Knowing how to drive when high-sided vehicles are next to you is not about being intimidated by them. It is about giving yourself time, space and a clear plan so that you remain in control.

This is a skill that matters from your earliest lessons through to driving independently. You may meet delivery lorries on urban roads in Barnet or Enfield, coaches on dual carriageways, buses at busy junctions and large articulated vehicles on motorways. Their size changes what you can see and how the air moves around your car, but calm, well-timed driving makes these situations manageable.

Why high-sided vehicles need extra caution

High-sided vehicles include lorries, coaches, buses, car transporters and some large vans. Their length, height and weight mean they cannot react, turn or stop as quickly as a car. The driver also has significant blind spots, particularly close alongside the cab and down the left-hand side of the vehicle.

The main risk is not simply that the vehicle is large. It is that drivers can make poor decisions when they feel boxed in. They may speed up to get past too quickly, sit in a blind spot, or attempt an overtake without enough clear road ahead. A safe driver does the opposite: they create a space cushion and act only when the conditions genuinely allow it.

Large vehicles can also affect your car physically. As you pass, air pressure may pull your car slightly towards the vehicle, then push it away as you clear the front. This effect is usually more noticeable at higher speeds, in gusty weather and when overtaking an articulated lorry.

How to drive when high-sided vehicles are next to you

Start by looking well ahead. If you can see a lorry approaching, moving out to overtake or preparing to turn, you have time to make a measured decision rather than reacting at the last moment. Check your mirrors regularly, maintain a suitable following distance and avoid driving level with the vehicle for longer than necessary.

If a high-sided vehicle is overtaking you on a dual carriageway or motorway, keep a steady course and speed. Hold the steering wheel securely, but do not grip it so tightly that you make jerky corrections. There is no need to move towards the kerb or hard shoulder. Stay centred in your lane and let the vehicle complete its manoeuvre.

You may feel a brief change in airflow as it passes. Anticipate it, keep your eyes ahead and make only small steering adjustments if needed. Sudden braking or swerving can turn a minor movement of air into a real loss of control.

If you are on a narrow road and a large vehicle is approaching, assess whether there is a safe place to wait. A lay-by, a wider section of road or a suitable gap between parked cars may allow you to pull in and let it pass. Do not squeeze through a space that leaves little margin for either vehicle. Waiting for a few seconds is always preferable to risking a collision with a lorry or a kerb.

Keep out of the blind spots

A useful rule is this: if you cannot see the lorry driver’s mirrors, assume the driver cannot see you. This is particularly relevant when you are alongside the cab or travelling close to the rear corner of a large vehicle.

On a multi-lane road, avoid lingering beside a lorry. Either stay safely behind, where you can see more of the road ahead, or pass decisively when it is legal and safe. Do not cruise in the lane next to it simply because your sat-nav says you will turn shortly. Adjust your position earlier where possible.

At traffic lights, never stop so close behind a high-sided vehicle that you cannot see its mirrors or any of the road ahead. Leave enough room to see the vehicle’s rear tyres meeting the road. This gives you a better view, provides an escape route if necessary and reduces the chance of being caught out if it rolls back slightly on a hill.

Overtaking a lorry safely

Overtaking needs a clear view, enough road space and a genuine reason to do it. On a motorway or dual carriageway, check mirrors, assess the traffic behind you, signal when appropriate and move out only when the next lane is clear. Build speed progressively rather than accelerating sharply at the last second.

Before committing, make sure you can pass without exceeding the speed limit and without cutting back in too early. A lorry is much longer than it appears from behind. Wait until you can see the whole front of the vehicle in your rear-view mirror before returning to the left-hand lane. This gives the driver a safe gap and prevents you from clipping the front of the cab.

On a single-carriageway road, the standard should be even higher. You need a long, clear view ahead, no hidden dips or bends, no approaching traffic, and enough distance to complete the manoeuvre safely. If there is any doubt, stay behind. The lorry may be travelling slowly, but an unsafe overtake develops very quickly.

Be especially patient near junctions, pedestrian crossings, roundabouts and built-up areas. A large vehicle may slow down unexpectedly, but that does not automatically create an opportunity to pass. It may be preparing to turn, responding to a hazard you cannot yet see or leaving room for another road user.

Take extra care in wind, rain and darkness

Crosswinds deserve respect when driving near high-sided vehicles. A lorry itself can shelter you briefly from the wind, then expose your car to a gust as you move beyond it. Bridges, open stretches of motorway and gaps between buildings can all make this more pronounced.

Reduce your speed slightly if conditions are windy, keep both hands on the wheel and leave more space than usual. This is not about driving excessively slowly. It is about choosing a speed that allows you to respond smoothly if your car is pushed off line.

In heavy rain, spray from the lorry’s tyres can wipe out your view for a moment. Increase your following distance so you have more time to see and stop. Use dipped headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, but do not rely on rear fog lights unless visibility is very poor. Their brightness can dazzle drivers behind you.

At night, the size of a large vehicle can make it harder to judge its position and speed. Keep your attention on road markings, reflective panels and the space ahead, rather than staring at the vehicle’s lights. If you feel tired or overloaded, do not force an overtake. Stay behind until the road is simpler and your view is clearer.

Junctions, roundabouts and turning lorries

The most dangerous place to be beside a high-sided vehicle is often at a junction. Lorries need extra room to turn, and a driver may have to move right before making a left turn or move left before turning right. This can look confusing, but it is often necessary because of the vehicle’s length.

Never try to pass a lorry on the left when it is indicating left or approaching a left turn. It may swing out before turning, and the gap beside it can disappear without warning. The same principle applies at roundabouts: do not place your car in a position where the lorry may need to cross your path to complete its turn.

Give the vehicle room, watch its indicators and road position, and be ready to wait. You are not losing progress by holding back. You are making a decision that protects you, the lorry driver and everyone around you.

Build confidence through calm routines

Confidence around large vehicles comes from repeatable habits, not bravado. Scan ahead, check mirrors, leave space, avoid blind spots and make your decisions early. If you miss an overtaking opportunity or need to wait at a junction, that is good judgement – not a mistake.

During driving lessons, practise recognising these situations before they become urgent. An instructor can help you judge safe gaps, manage crosswinds and plan your road position on busy routes. At CJL Driving School, the aim is always to help learners make safe, independent decisions rather than merely react to the traffic around them.

Every time a high-sided vehicle appears beside you, give yourself permission to slow the situation down. A steady speed, a safe gap and a clear view will take you much farther than trying to rush past.