For at least the sixth time in twenty years, a coroner is suggesting that governments should make rear-view mirrors compulsory on all heavy-duty vehicles to prevent accidents involving pedestrians, which all too often end in tragedy.
“I recommend exploring the possibility of making the installation of rear-view mirrors or vulnerable road user detection technology mandatory for all new and imported heavy vehicles in Canada to prevent further deaths,” says coroner Me Marilynn Morin in her inquest report the death of Andrea Rovere, which occurred in Montreal in September 2021.
Blind spot
On a rainy day, the 31-year-old cyclist stopped his bike at a red light on the corner of Mont-Royal and du Parc in Le Plateau-Mont-Royal.
When his traffic light turned green, he drove straight south.
Andrea Rovere, the victim. Photo from LinkedIn
However, at the same time a truck driver transporting gravel was traveling west. Brandon Marchand-Bibeau hit the cyclist who was in the blind spot.
Despite wearing his helmet, the Italian-born scientist, who came to Quebec to begin his doctoral work in energy sciences, did not survive the impact.
The heavy-duty truck that fatally struck a 31-year-old cyclist was found in Outremont the same day. Photo AGENCE QMI, Thierry Laforce
The truck driver didn’t see anything. He had gone to his construction site where he was arrested.
An accident
The investigation ultimately determined that the collision was an accident.
Nevertheless, Marchand-Bibeau was found guilty of hit-and-run resulting in death. Last summer he was sentenced to nine months of house arrest.
Brandon Marchand-Bibeau, guilty, photo agency QMI, Joël Lemay
Not the first
Coroner Morin is far from the first to recommend the mandatory installation of rear-view mirrors since the early 2000s.
Last September, La Presse revealed in a report that at least five coroners had since suggested making rear-view mirrors compulsory in urban areas, a measure that could have saved the lives of around forty pedestrians.
Recently, Coroner Lyne Lamarre addressed this issue in one of her reports.
In your opinion, it seems “necessary” to adopt this solution. These mirrors are already mandatory on school buses in Quebec.
Short term
“It’s a short-term solution. It is easy to install and inexpensive, but it is not a panacea,” warns Sandrine Cabane-Degani, director general of Piétons Québec.
“We shouldn’t stop thinking about heavy-duty vehicle design,” continues the woman, who believes Transport Canada needs to raise awareness.
Nevertheless, she thinks it is encouraging that forensic experts are taking more interest in this issue and not just focusing on the behavior of drivers.
In the rearview mirror we see a bus that is equipped with a rearview mirror. Archive photo QMI Agency, Joël Lemay
In addition, Me Morin’s report also proposes “mandating the installation of self-adhesive warning posters reading ‘Caution, Blind Spots’ on all new heavy vehicles imported into Canada to raise awareness of vulnerable users.”
It makes this appeal to Transport Canada, the Quebec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMDQ) and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).
For its part, the SAAQ said via email that the coroner’s report was currently being analyzed and that it was “too early” to comment.
Transport Canada did not respond to our questions.
Can you share information about this story?
Write to us or call us directly at 1 800-63SCOOP.