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Insurer in call for blind-spot mirrors
Page 7
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By Brian Weath,.: INSURANCE GIANT Norwich Union is urging truck operators to take stronger action to prevent their vehicles being involved in an accident with cyclists — or risk being prosecuted for health and safety breaches or even corporate manslaughter.
Mike Smith, Norwich Union's commercial motor technical manager, insists UK hauliers should press ahead with retrofitting closeproximity 'blind-spot mirrors to vehicles now rather than wait for their mandatory fitment, under European Union law, in March 2009.
"Apart from the moral obligation, killing or injuring cyclists can damage truck firms' reputations," says Smith. who warns an accident can "lead to prosecutions or driver absences due to stress".
Smith reports that the additional blind-spot mirrors can increase a driver's field of vision. "Drivers and fleet managers should be looking at upgrading the type of mirrors fitted to their LGVs now to reduce the risk of a collision with other road users," he says. -If fleet managers breach their duty-of-care requirements towards cyclists, safety procedures could he the focus of an investigation by the police and/or the Health & Safety Executive. The firm could also be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter if a fatality was to occur."