There are places around the vehicle that the driver can hardly see. Such places are called “blind spots”. There are four zones on a truck that can be described as blind spot zones. According to federal accident statistics, 236 people lost their lives in a traffic accident on Swiss roads in 2023. 4096 people were seriously injured during this period. Statistics on truck accidents in which pedestrians or cyclists were injured or killed are part of the comprehensive accident statistics. The negligent injury or even killing of a road user due to the driver’s limited visibility is not uncommon. This is shown by the recent court ruling in the canton of Bern, where a driver was convicted of negligently killing a cyclist.
Blind spot: Where is the driver’s field of vision always restricted?
The following videos from TC Switzerland show situations where the driver’s field of vision is always restricted and how a perception error (‘looked-but-failed-to-see’) can occur:
Compliance with the technical requirements for road vehicles (VTS) and retrofitting with suitable mirrors are therefore important prerequisites for increasing road safety.
Which mirrors are mandatory for a truck in Switzerland (and the EU)?
According to the Ordinance on the Technical Requirements for Road Vehicles (VTS), rear-view mirrors are mandatory in Switzerland. In addition, according to Article 112 of the VTS “Mirrors and other devices for indirect vision”, drivers must ensure that their vehicles are equipped/retrofitted as follows:
- A rear-view mirror and a wide-angle mirror must be installed on the left and right so that the current situation on both sides of the vehicle can be seen.
- For trucks weighing 7.5 tonnes or more, a front mirror and a ramp mirror above the passenger door must also be retrofitted.
Eliminating blind spots helps prevent traffic accidents. The Swiss mirror system TowiSpick provides insight into blind spots when turning right and is suitable for commercial vehicles such as trucks and vans as a Class VI front mirror, Class V ramp mirror and Class IV wide-angle mirror.
Relevant products
TowiSpick mirror system by W. Blaser
Wide-angle mirror system WewiSpick
Mirror systems for retrofitting to tractors and tractors
Side camera system & turning assistant Mekra
Rear view cameras for trucks & tractors
References
Art. 112 Mirrors and other devices for indirect vision of the Regulation on the technical requirements for road vehicles (VTS). Last accessed on 10 August 2024.
Federal accident statistics (2023). Last accessed on August 10, 2024.
Touring Club Schwitzerland (2024). The dangers of blind spots. Zuletzt geöffnet am 20.08.2024.