1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144 
Time to reflect on new EU blindspot mirror rules
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
COVER STORY
by Brian Weathertey & Cohn Barnett
OPERATORS ARE reminded that the second EU directive — 2007/38/EC — on close-proximity and wide-angle mirrors comes into force on 31 March.
It requires all commercial vehi cies over 3.5 tonnes, first registered after 1 January 2000, to be fitted with compliant blindspot mirrors or cameras.
Compliance with the directive is initially by operators completing a self-certification form, available from VOSA, which must then be submitted at the next annual test.
If you are unsure whether or not the mirrors fitted to your vehicles comply with the new regulations, you should contact your vehicle supplier.
A number of major manufacturers, including DAF, Scania and Volvo, are already running specific blindspot mirror retrofit programmes, as well as providing simple devices to check the curvature of existing mirrors on your trucks to see if they meet the new regulations (above right).
There is also a website where operators can quickly find out if their existing vehicles already have mirrors that comply with the new regulations at wwwcheck yourmirror.com To use the site, you will need to enter the chassis numbers of your trucks.
• Commercial Motor conducted a comprehensive blindspot mirror test (Mirror, Mirror', CM 24 July 2008) that looked at the ner, mirror requirements, as well as the additional vision provided by devices such as the Dobli mirror, TV monitors and fresnel lenses. For back issues, call 01371 851800 or visit www.roadtransport.com/blindspot