The UK government has less than twelve months to introduce laws to comply with the EU directive (2007/38/EC) regarding blind spots on trucks, leaving fleet operators confused over what they should be doing.
The directive which must be enforced by 31st March 2009, means that up to four million trucks across Europe will need to be retrofitted with new mirrors or devices for indirect vision (camera monitor systems) to the nearside. Although guidelines have been set out in the directive, UK legislation is yet to be finalised. The new legislation increases the class IV and class V areas visible to the driver to eliminate any blind spots.
Brigade Electronics, leaders in all round visibility, already have two EU approved alternative solutions to meet the requirements of the directive. The Dobli mirror is a low cost option, designed to fit most major truck makes. They are easily fitted to the front of the truck and can be viewed through the windscreen. They are already widely used in the Netherlands and Scandinavia.
For a comprehensive solution that eliminates the requirement for new or additional mirrors, a camera-monitor system is the answer. Brigade’s BE-300C is a flush mount side view camera which will provide a clear image of all areas to the near side of the vehicle.
Operators who have an existing Brigade rear view CCTV system fitted can benefit from the addition of a side view camera, which can be quickly and simply connected to a suitable existing monitor. Operators that have not yet fitted a rear view system can take the opportunity to fit a combined side view and rear view system, saving several hundred pounds on the cost of fitting separately, and optimizing space in the cab by using one monitor for two functions.
Brigade, through its large network of European distributors is already supplying solutions to conform to the requirements of the directive. Although the deadline seems a long way off, the
retrofitting of trucks across Europe is a mammoth task and Brigade is urging operators to act sooner rather than later to secure product and fitter availability.
