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EU makes ruling on retrofit blind-spot mirrors for LGVs
Page 11
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OPERATORS ACROSS the European Union will have to retrofit trucks registered in this decade with blind-spot mirrors by March 2009 under safety legislation that was approved by the EU Council of Ministers last week.
The Council has a clear motive for the new Directive. It believes that "retrofitting existing heavy goods vehicles with blind-spot mirrors could save more than 12(X) lives on European roads between now and 2020".
It predicts that the current cost of retrofitting mirrors "should in principle not present a huge financial burden and is estimated at €100-150 (i67-101)".
The Council adds:"The Directive is aimed at improving the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who are particularly exposed to dangers arising from the lateral blind spot which lorries have on the passenger side."
Under existing EU law, new heavy-duty vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes will have to be equipped with blind-spot mirrors from this year onwards.