Tractors and straight trucks built in North America, with their rear-set cabs and main hoods, are often poorly designed with regard to direct visibility, experts advise. Pres. Should windshields be fitted straight from the factory?
In Europe, almost all heavy vehicles have forward room and a flat front, which reduces the front blind spot. The reality is that since 2004, all new trucks of 7.5 tonnes or more must be fitted with at least one rear-view mirror – unless they meet strict direct visibility criteria – to circulate in the Union.
Photo by Henrik Ketunen, Bloomberg Archives
In Europe, almost all heavy vehicles have forward room and a flat front, which reduces the front blind spot. In our photo, the trucks are parked in Finland.
On this side of the border, Transport Canada has jurisdiction over vehicle construction standards.
The federal agency did not grant us an interview, but explained in a lengthy email that it is conducting a research project on vehicle blind spots and advising on safety-enhancing technologies. “Truck design and use varies significantly between urban and rural settings, making installing some type of windshield impractical to create a one-size-fits-all solution,” a spokesperson wrote.
Transport Canada is instead focusing on the design of mandatory mirrors, driver assistance technologies and improving the driver’s direct line of sight.
For example, trucks with sloping hoods are more aerodynamic and reduce the frontal blind spot. Several models have been refined in recent decades.
A weak argument
“Even with the addition of glasses [antéviseurs] It can improve indirect vision for drivers that have the negative effect of reducing direct vision,” explained a spokesperson. Quebec Journal In 2010.
From this report by Transport Canada, according to our investigation, no fewer than 23 pedestrians have died in Montreal in situations obstructed by additional mirrors.
In 2013, after a 51-year-old woman died under the wheels of a dump truck, a coroner wrote: “Transport Canada insists, “The addition of anti-glare windshields may have allowed the driver to see pedestrians. Avoid confrontation.” »
In a document published in 2018, Transport Canada reaffirms that “mirrors themselves, along with the hood and front and center pillars, can create blind spots for the driver.”
“It becomes a choice,” notes Sébastien Bédard, an engineer with the Quebec Ministry of Transportation (MTQ). “Honestly, I don’t think Transport Canada has studied this issue. [en 2010], but there is a basis for what the spokesperson said: This type of glass can create a certain blind spot. In my opinion, the cost-benefit is much better to have them. »
Mr. Bedard explains that a simple movement of the head is enough to compensate for the blind spot caused by the glasses, which is not true for the blind spot caused by the hood.
Julien Dufort, an engineer at Polytechnique Montréal, sees no confusion: he and his team have found an adjustment method that avoids any blind spots.
Focus on technology?
Another issue cited in favor of voluntary installation of windshields: “We don’t want to limit technological development,” said MTQ’s Mr. Bedard explains. Coming into 2019-2020, many systems are emerging. Mandating equipment sucks the whole thing a bit. [l’attention]. »
Julien Dufort, an engineer at Polytechnique Montreal, disagrees with this argument: “In the transition [technologique], he believes it’s never too late to install antiviruses. There will always be a bunch of old vehicles that can’t integrate new technologies. Costs more. » Later, he points out that “car mirrors have never prevented the development of other security systems.”
The European directive allows the camera system to replace certain types of mandatory mirrors, especially front mirrors.
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