News

The TruckView anti-side-swipe lens being offered by VOSA to foreign hauliers is now being promoted heavily to UK transport businesses. The clear, thin, plastic lens, which is press-fitted to the door window, provides the driver with a downward view close and around the truck's passenger door. 130,000 TruckView lenses have been issued to left-hand drive trucks, resulting in a reduction of 59% in side-swipe incidents on motorways (according to VOSA figures).

However, following Trans-port  for London's (TfL) decision last month to hand out lenses to hauliers in the capital to prevent collisions with cyclists, the lens manufacturer Alenia Optic is reporting plenty of domestic interest. Director Les Haigh tells MT that VOSA gave away 1,200 lenses at the CV Show, while the Highways Agency has placed an order for 60,000.

Having been provided with 400 lenses by TfL, the Royal Mail has asked for more lenses for vehicles based in the rest of the country. DHL has also acquired some lenses for the capital and has also sought more for its fleet outside London. Haigh also reports strong interest from a major insurance firm.

Typical costs are: £12.76 per lens for an order of one to 99 lenses £9.99 per lens for an order of 100 to 999 lenses and £7.99 per lens for an order of 1,000 or more lenses. For more information, click here. Fitting of close-proximity mirrors becomes compulsory on all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes  by 31 March 2009. Norwich Union is advising fleet operators to review their risk-management practices as a result.