Presentation of Visibility Tests Performed from the Truck Driver Cabin; Development and Validation of Visibility Field Models

More information

Main author

Ignácz, F.

Co-Authors

Bell, M.

Type of media

PDF

Publication type

Lecture

Publication year

2010

Publisher

19. EVU Conference, Prague

Citation

Ignácz, F.: Presentation of Visibility Tests Performed from the Truck Driver Cabin; Development and Validation of Visibility Field Models. 19. EVU Conference, Prague

In the cornering and lane-changing processes of heavy trucks, vulnerable road users (VRU) may get into the driver’s visibility dead space, which can lead to accidents. There are very serious consequences, if a truck runs over a VRU after a collision. The shortcomings of the indirect visibility field were eliminated by fitting new mirrors in accordance with to the directive 2003/97/EC, however the directive only applies to new vehicles. According to the directive 2007/38/EC, on the right hand side of the vehicle the view to the side and rear, the dead space should be eliminated in the case of vehicles in use. According to this, starting 31st March 2009 trucks in use after 1st January 2000, corresponding to the categories N2 and N3, should be equipped with mirrors complying to the technical specifications of the earlier directive.