Legal Brief
Biglorryblog thinks he's might have come up with the answer to truck blindspots caused by those new EU mirror regs...
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Regular Biglorryblog readers will know I've been blogging quite a bit lately on the problem of blind spots for drivers when entering road junctions and roundabouts created by the latest EU mirror regs which have resulted in large mirror clusters.
These, together with the deep A-posts on many of today's trucks means you've got quite a large area of lost lateral vision--a point recently picked up on by Motorcycle News who are naturally worried about bikers being lost in that blind spot.
Travelling up and down the highways and byeways of this great country (and the M25 too)....I've noticed a possible solution on a number of National Express coaches like these fine machines pictured above. (They're Scanias with Iriza bodywork for the cognescenti). It involves a combination of 'Praying Mantis' style top-hung main mirrors and a bottom mirror cluster (which I presume includes a wide-angle mirror) mounted below the driver's window. The upshot is that there's a clear gap between the two through which the driver can see which must be good at junctions and roundabouts.
Would it work on a truck? I don't see why not. Anyway it's well worth a try and I wonder if any of the truck makers have tried it. I've heard conflicting reports as to whether Mantis mirrors would be viable on a truck. The first is that by virtue of the fact that they'd stick out in front they'd push an artic over the 16.5m length limit. But I always understoof that safety equipment (which mirrors obviously are) are exempt from this rule. Perhaps one of my regular readers could comment on this...how about it Nick? Then there's the opinion that a Mantis mirror wouldn't give you the same 'picture' as a normal cab wing mirror on an artic. But I don't see why not and Volvo and Pierce certainly don't seem to be too bothered by it as they have both used them on the DCV (above)and Velocity (below) vehicles.
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27/11/2006
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There is a very simple and readily available solution to the problem of blind spots caused by mirrors; use side view and/or rear view cameras instead.
The regulations – 2003/97/EC and 2005/27/EC for new trucks, and 2007/38/EC for existing trucks – not only increased the side and front areas that must to be visible to the driver (thereby reducing blind spots), but also introduced the optional use of camera-monitor devices instead of conventional mirrors.
There are many advantages to using a camera-monitor device instead of a conventional mirror, not least of which is that they do not cause the problem highlighted on this blog; that the number and size of mirrors now required is adding to the very problem that they are designed to remove; ie they cause more blind spots themselves….!
The point with cameras is that they do not need to be visible to the driver, so do not need to obstruct the driver’s field of view in any way at all. A typical side view camera will be positioned on or just in front of the door, below the side window height. With a wide angle of view, and connected to a compact colour monitor (5” up to 7” wide screen monitors are typical), this can provide the driver with a much wider angle of view than is possible with the combination of a Class II and Class IV mirror. And it does this without reducing in any way the driver’s view through the windscreen or side windows.
Conventional mirrors have changed little in years. In the light of modern technology, they may now be considered a pretty blunt tool for providing all-round visibility to drivers.
Mirrors:
- cause blind spots – the very thing they are designed to remove
- pose an impact hazard
- may cause driver confusion (too many places to look)
- are frequently damaged and expensive to replace
- add wind resistance, increasing fuel consumption and adversely affecting the environment
- generally look terrible
Cameras cause none of these problems, and modern designs are small, sleek, and unobtrusive.
Furthermore, the night time picture quality is infinitely better than with a mirror. In fact, because what you see is an electronically enhanced image, you can – in all but the very darkest conditions – get a clear colour picture that looks like daylight, at a time when darkness means that very little is visible through the conventional mirrors.
Brigade Electronics plc is one of the original pioneers of vehicle camera-monitor systems in Europe, and has been supplying these systems - starting with rear view systems for reversing – for over 20 years. Rear, side and front view cameras are now available, together with a range of monitors to suit every cab and application.
We believe that the advantages of camera-monitor systems over conventional mirrors are such that the latter will almost completely disappear from new trucks and cars over the next 5-10 years. And when they go, the blind spot problems they cause will go with them.
Brigade Electronics plc
www.brigade-electronics.com
email: info@brigade-electronics.com
Tel: +44 (0)1322 420300
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