The native UK vehicle fleet is right hand drive (RHD) with a corresponding road infrastructure, presenting unique challenges to the increasing numbers of mainland European left hand drive (LHD) heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) using UK roads. This paper analyses the nature and circumstances of HGV accidents in the UK, paying particular attention to LHD HGVs and the causal factors exhibited.

Using in-depth real world accident data the characteristics of 65 LHD HGVs involved in accidents are described in comparison with 250 RHD HGVs. On-scene cases from the UK ‘On The Spot’ (OTS) project, funded by the UK Department for Transport and Highways Agency, enable a detailed examination of accident causation mechanisms and behavioural patterns. Comparison is made with the national accident data to put the in-depth investigation into context.

The majority of LHD HGV collisions include causal factors related to vehicle geometry (blind spots) and driver mental load, compared to RHD HGV collisions which include injudicious and road environment factors. Discussion focuses on the complex, multifactorial nature of these accidents with both vehicles and drivers not best adapted for UK roads. Key aspects of the accidents studied are identified and their implications are discussed for enhanced driver support and education.

There are inevitable limitations regarding the amount of detail that can be collected on-scene due to the time consuming nature of the specialist vehicle examinations required and the language barrier. A pilot, translated, interview procedure has however been put in place to gain the maximum amount of information.