Retrofitting of mirrors to hgvs
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.
For further information, please see FTA's Compliance Guide under Operator tools below.
- Operator tools
FTA services
FTA Products
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