ONE REASON RAY WARD fits reversing equipment to the Palmer
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& Harvey McLane distribution fleet is that they are employed on multi-drop work to shops and forecourts. David Botwright at Biffa Waste Services fits them because of the large amount of activity that takes place at the back-end of the 900-plus refuse collection and waste disposal trucks in his care. Martin
Carroll, chairman of Saints Transport, is set to have them installed on all new vehicles in his fleet as they do a lot of backing around aeroplanes...
A few years ago, reversing systems were more likely to be regarded as optional accessories for the gadget-loving operator with more cash than sense. These days safety and risk management are topical issues. For some operators, the fitting of reversing aids is a must for health and safety reasons. To others, it is a common-sense approach to vehicle operations.
Technologies
Comparisons based on the cost of these systems are often meaningless because of the different technologies involved and the features they offer. The systems add little in weight and, thanks to the innovation of microwave control, some of the more complicated models are becoming easier to install. The cost of the right model for your operation might appear prohibitive, but there is evidence to suggest that fitting them can save a massive invest ment in accident repairs and possibly huge fines in the event of an accident.
A report published towards the end of last year by researchers at the University of Huddersfield suggested that those investing in reversing equipment were doing so with good reason.
Reversing Accidents in UK Transport Fleets was compiled from data supplied by Go operators controlling more than 88,o oo vehicles. The report showed that an average 23% of all accidents occurred when the vehicles were reversing, with 26% of all accidents involving an articulated truck a consequence of a
rear-end manoeuvre. But before any non-artic drivers get too cocky, the figure was the same for vans and slightly higher for rigid trucks, at 27%.
The report concluded that some actions or "interventions" could help reduce reversing accidents. If improving the vehicles themselves is an important "intervention", installing reversing aids is a major step forward.
The Palmer & Harvey McLane operation delivers confectionery goods to retailers, Transport manager Ray Ward says 57% of vehicle damage in his company was a result of manoeuvring accidents, adding that the installation of reversing aids was a key part of the company's solution: "Since the introduction of driver training, 'How's My Driving' and the fitting of the Groeneveld Greensight equipment, the financial implications have been staggering," he says. The evidence is a 28% reduction in accidents in the first year, third-party claims down by 50%, a direct saving of D30,000 in insurance premiums and an overall saving in accident repairs of floo,000.
We have more than 500 trucks, most of them of the r7tonne rigid type. We started fitting reversing equipment on them from the R registrations onward. It is part of our specification now," says Ward.
Greensight systems use a combination of sensors to detect the presence of fixed or moving objects, with audible and visual warning signals to alert the driver. The software maps the area behind and to the side of the vehide at the rear. It tells the driver if an object is inside the set zones and the driver can tell how dose it is according to the colour change of the LEDs," says Groeneveld managing director Dino Mercurio.
He points out the growing responsibilities that operators must address: "If it can be shown that the employer was aware that he could have improved or reduced the risk for his employees, he could be found to be at fault for not taking the necessary action. On the other hand, if the employer winds up in court and it can be shown that he did everything possible to reduce the risk, such as introducing a driver training programme and installing reversing systems—on a rolling programme—then these measures could be seen as mitigating circumstances."
The warning has substance. Early last year, a Sussex operator was fined f150,000 after one of its employees was killed in a reversing accident. It was held the company had failed to discharge its full responsibilities according to Health & Safety legislation.
Colbrook-based air-freight operator Saints Transport is about to introduce an installation programme, with a rolling retrofit programme that should see all 16o vehicles fitted with reversing bleepers by the end of next year.
Aeroplanes
Chairman Martin Carroll believes that operators should use as much technology as possible to improve safety levels. With aeroplanes worth millions of pounds to manoeuvre around, it is an understandable view.
"We have new vehicles arriving at the end of the month and we expect to have zo new units in total this year. We've asked our Scania and Mercedes suppliers to install bleeper systems as a standard fit on all new vehicles. The fleet totals about 16o vehicles and I expect the retrofit programme will ensure they all have bleepers in about 12 months' time," says Carroll. Saints has installed Brigade Electronic bleepers. Although Brigade offers a range of reversing aids including camera-based systems, Saints chose bleepers because they are less expensive to install across the fleet.
However, Biffa uses both types of system in tandem. Both are supplied by Vision Techniques. "First, the cameras are there to make sure there are no untoward things happening at the back. Second, there isn't always a banksman. We use cameras so the drivers can see what they are reversing up to and bleepers to let people know what is going on," says central workshop manager David Botwright.
The pressure is also building in smaller fleets. A spokesman for Tarmac says: "All the contract hauliers that come on to our sites have reverse warning bleepers fitted to their vehicles and we are running trials on reversing cameras."
And if the driving force is the client providing work, it's high time to investigate the options.