A study of the implementation of Directive 2007/38/EC on the retrofitting of blind spot mirrors to HGVs

It has long been acknowledged that large vehicles have blind spots around them which the driver is unable to see into and that this has the potential to contribute to the cause of accidents. In order to reduce the risk of accidents involving blind spots, the European Union (EU) implemented Directive 2003/97/EC, which substantially increased the field of view available from the mirrors of new trucks and buses sold in the EU from January 2007 . These included requirements that certain vehicles be fitted with mirrors to cover the blind spot at the front of the vehicle and on the passenger side of the vehicle. It was also considered to be cost-effective to require existing heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) already in-service to be retro-fitted with the side view blind spot mirrors, and this was implemented by Directive 2007/38/EC. This report describes in full a review of the implementation of Directive 2007/38/EC, which involved: • A brief review of recent literature regarding the effectiveness of mirrors and other technologies at preventing blind spot accidents; • Analysis of the results of a questionnaire sent by the Commission to each of the Member States, and • Analysis of accident and casualty data supplied by the Commission