Brussels, 05/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - The Commission is delighted with the success of its campaign against blind spots and the installation of specific mirrors on lorries since 2007.
Accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles and so-called “vulnerable” road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists, are usually more frequent and more fatal. They are largely caused by blind spots in the lorry drivers' field of vision in certain areas surrounding the vehicle. In an effort to reduce this danger to road safety, the Commission introduced the “blind spot” directive (EC 2007/38) in 2007, which made the installation of special mirrors on heavy goods vehicles compulsory as a means to reduce this blind spot effect. A report published on Monday 4 June by the Transport Research Laboratory, as requested by the European Commission, highlights the encouraging results obtained in the implementation of this law. The number of deaths caused by accidents between lorries and vulnerable users has significantly decreased over the past two years, following the modernisation of lorries with these additional mirrors. The results are even better than expected but the study admits that it would be difficult to determine to what extent the European legislation has exactly had on the impact of improved road safety. The document also points out that other provisions need to be taken if the dangers linked to blind spots are to be further reduced. Equipping lorries with vision assistance aids such as sensors and signals or even long distance road mirrors could also help tackle the problem of blind spots. The Commission also insists that training and greater awareness by road users about this problem is of equal importance in tackling this issue. (MD/transl.fl)