Brussels, 11/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has presented a proposal of directive relating to rear-view mirrors and to additional indirect vision systems with which motor vehicles are fitted. The aim is to improve the safety of road users though fitting higher performance rear view mirrors and by swift introduction of new technologies allowing the indirect field of vision of drivers of private cars, buses, coaches and lorries to be extended. Many serious accidents are caused by drivers who are not aware that other road users are close to or already alongside their own vehicle. The proposal completes the current directive relating to rear view mirrors with new provisions aimed at reducing blind angles. The main changes proposed are as follows - additional rear view mirrors should be installed on certain vehicles (front mirrors on trucks, exterior rear view mirrors on the passengers' side of cars, aspherical mirrors on passenger cars and small commercial vehicles); - some technical characteristics of mirrors must be upgraded in line with technical progress; - and some mirrors must be replaced with other indirect vision systems, such as camera/monitor systems.