News

Arla's dairy distribution fleet is currently testing TurnSafe, a new self-adjusting rear-view mirror designed to eliminate the nearside blind-spot on artics. Waitrose, Sainsbury, Hoyer and the Irish RHA are also looking closely at the system and its designer has been invited to Scania's Swedish HQ to demonstrate its worth. Turnsafe, which is the brainchild of Jason Perks, was seven years in development and derives from his direct experience as an electronics engineer and part-time international  LGV driver.

Driving in Europe - the concept works with both right- and left-hand drive vehicles - left him in no doubt as to the rear vision limitations of conventional mirrors. He produced a prototype nearside mirror, and further tests with international driver Graham Evans - now sales manger of AVR Automotive the company marketing the device - allowed him to refine the concept. In operation the fully automatic TurnSafe's tiny system fits within the existing mirror housing incorporating AVR's own cartridge and software. It can be installed in an hour and the correct software for the make of vehicle is downloaded directly from AVR's London office via a simple modem.

A rear-facing Kodak image sensor under the mirror effectively lines itself up with the trailer at all times and in all light conditions. The mirror then changes angle automatically to obtain the optimum nearside view. By doing so AVR claims the TurnSafe will reduce the blind side area, consequently improving  safety, reducing damage, downtime, accident and insurance premiums and improving the public image of users. What the customer is buying is expertise and R&D to facilitate their duty of care to employees and third parties.

We tested TurnSafe near Lakeside shopping centre, Essex, around a tricky series of roundabouts among careless Christmas shoppers in owner-driver Bob Durrant's XF95. It proved its worth within minutes, functioning smoothly and without distraction to significantly increase the angle of nearside vision. Newcomers to artic driving or those with rusty skills would find it especially helpful. The British-built, BSI- approved intelligent system also functions in drawbar rigs and would be ideal for LHD trucks operating in the UK. Individual TurnSafe units cost £700, however fleets may claim discounts.