Truck drivers face new mirror regulations

New EU regulations on improving the standards of truck drivers' mirrors will take effect at the end of March 2009 and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has published a compliance guide, 'Retrofitting of mirrors to HGVs', outlining actions truck operators and drivers need to take.

Directive 2007/38/EC requires vehicles over 3.5t to have devices (mirrors or CCTV) retrofitted to improve the driver's field of vision with the aim of improving the safety of road users - in particular pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. There have been many accidents where pedestrians and riders have been struck by goods vehicles after entering the road space on the inside of the vehicle and into the driver's blind spot.

Legislation requiring improvements to the mirrors on new vehicles took effect in 2007 but many post-1 January 2000 trucks remain in use without any improvement to their field of indirect vision.

The guide is available to FTA members via its website. Non-members should apply to the FTA Member Service Centre.