Posted at 5:00 am.
What does the industry and truckers think?
“Almost all drivers believe that adding front mirrors is a useful or very useful solution to effectively identify vulnerable road users in an urban environment,” writes Sébastien Bédard, an engineer at the Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ), in an article summary the results of a study conducted in 2017 and 2018 with Polytechnique Montréal.
Jean Chartrand, president of Teamsters Union Local 106, says the truckers’ association “fully supports the introduction of front mirrors” for trucks, although it is not a “panacea.” “These devices are not only beneficial for the safety of road users, but also make it easier for truck drivers to maneuver in tight spaces or park in complicated places. »
At the Quebec Trucking Association (ACQ), president and CEO Marc Cadieux reiterates that he would not oppose tightening legislation that is not “wall-to-wall.”
When a truck is in close proximity to the urban fabric, front mirrors would be highly desirable.
Marc Cadieux, President and CEO of the ACQ
Mr. Cadieux clarifies that any death or serious injury related to a truck entails “not only a company bill, but also a company bill.” Not to mention the many drivers who struggle with “nervous” or post-traumatic shock after an accident.
The ACQ is less convinced about the usefulness of front mirrors on the motorway network, research shows. “If we are realistic, the more equipment accumulates snow on the main roads of a Nordic country, the less useful it becomes,” notes Mr Cadieux.
How did New York legislate?
IMAGE FROM A NEW YORK CITY SHEET
According to New York City regulations, front mirrors (cross-over mirrors) must provide a view of a target approximately 3 to 30 cm in front of the truck.
In 2011, New York State took the lead. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law requiring the installation of a rearview mirror on all commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds registered in New York state and operated in cities with more than 1 million residents, excluding highways.
Mr. Cuomo was convinced that this “necessary step” would save lives. A 4-year-old boy was killed riding his tricycle after disappearing under the nose of a pickup truck in Brooklyn. “The state legislature must act and do it now before another precious life is cut short,” then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference.
The regulation went into effect in New York City in 2012; The mirrors must allow a target 3 feet to 30 cm in front of the truck to be visible.
According to a U.S. Department of Transportation study released in May 2020, in the United States, 71% of pedestrians killed by a heavy truck were in front of the vehicle during the collision.
What does the law say in Quebec?
“Every vehicle, except motorcycles and mopeds, must be equipped with at least two rear-view mirrors in good condition, securely fastened and installed, the first inside in the center of the upper part of the windshield and the other, outside to the left of the vehicle “, states the SAAQ.
Federal motor vehicle safety regulations require new trucks to also be equipped with a passenger side exterior mirror.
Most vans also have convex – wide-angle mirrors – on the front of their hood. The Quebec Trucking Association would like to see Transport Canada require this from manufacturers.
The SAAQ recommends not removing the convex mirrors in favor of front mirrors; If possible, these need to be added to the security arsenal.