The new EU Directive 2007/38/EC to retrofit all vehicles first registered after 1st January 2000
The regulation stipulates that all vehicles over 3.5 tons need to be fitted with new wide angle (classIV) and kerb mirrors (class V), that meet with the new legislation, by the 31st March 2009, this is in addition to the front view mirror introduced in January 2007. The new directive improves the driver’s visibility of pedestrians or cyclists when the vehicle is making left turn (right hand drive vehicles) or right turn (left hand drive vehicles). March 31 is close, so planned annual service times are the perfect time to have the mirrors fitted, the longer you leave it, the more demand will be as march 2009 approaches.
The Directive states:
“A number of accidents are caused by drivers of heavy goods vehicles who are not aware that other road users are very close to or beside their vehicle. These accidents are often related to a change of direction at crossings, junctions or roundabouts when drivers fail to detect other road users in the blind spots which exist in the area immediately around their vehicles. It is estimated that every year about 400 people in Europe are killed in such circumstances, most of them being vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
In its White Paper of 12 September 2001 ‘European transport policy for 2010: time to decide’ the Commission set the target of halving the number of road fatalities in the EU by 2010. In its third Road Safety Action Programme the Commission committed itself to investigating the issue of retrofitting heavy goods vehicles already in circulation with devices for indirect vision in order to reduce their blind spots and thus to contribute to the reduction of road fatalities.”
New goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and certain goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes were required to be fitted with additional and improved mirrors in order to reduce blind spots from 26 January 2007. However, a new directive (2007/38/EC) requires heavy goods vehicles to be fitted retrospectively with enhanced mirrors so as to reduce the number of fatal accidents involving vulnerable road users. The deadline for retrofitment of mirrors or other devices is 31 March 2009. This directive applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes which are not type approved or approved as a single vehicle under Directive 2003/97/EC.
Under the new directive all vehicles of categories over 3.5 tonnes not complying with Directive 2003/97/EC must be retrofitted, on the passenger's side, with improved devices for indirect vision.
However, it does not apply to any of the following:
- Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered before 1 January 2000
- Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes having a maximum total permissible mass not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, where it is impossible to mount a class V mirror in a way that ensures that the following conditions are fulfilled:
- no part of the mirror is less than 2m (a tolerance of + 10cm may be applied) from the ground, regardless of the adjustment position, when the vehicle is under a load corresponding to its maximum technically permissible weight and
- the mirror is fully visible from the driving position
- Light commercial vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles are not covered by the directive.
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A SELECTION OF VEHICLES CURRENTLY AFFECTED BY THE LEGISLATION
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You should check with your vehicle manufacturer or supplier first to confirm what retro-fit requirement, if any, is required for your particular vehicle.
Alternatively, you can check at: http://www.checkyourmirror.com/ or download there advisory leaflet by clicking HERE
Important VOSA Downloads (click on heading to download pdf form)
Compliance Guide For Retrofitting of Mirrors to Lorries
Declaration of Compliance of Vehicle to Directive 2007/38/EC
The completed form shall be submitted at the time of test to declare that the vehicle fully complies with the field of view requirements of Directive 2007/38/EC.
It need only be completed if your vehicle was first registered on or after 1st January 2000, is over 3.5 tonnes GVW and does not claim exemption:
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