Biglorryblog's favourite old curmudgeon 'The Boss' is back and talking a great deal of sense as far as I can 'see'... About Blindspot mirrors and the latest EU regs. He tells me: "Brian, thought it best to comply with EU regs regarding new mirrors at a cost I believe of about £100.Interestingly I reckon my rearward and downward vision has now been reduced compared to the mirrors that were previous in place! I do wonder who thinks these things up? Probably why UKIP gets the vote this time round..." Meanwhile, here's a shot from The Boss of the new mirrors on his beloved Maggie - and I note he's also added a fresnel lens (useful for picking up things on the nearside) although a fresnel lens alone will not meet the EU Blindspot regs.
I have to say I concur 100% with what The Boss says. Indeed, I can't help feeling that the latest generation of 'Big Mirror Clusters' on either side of a truck required by the latest EU regs now seem to create as many problems as they solve... In particular adding an extra wide-angle mirror to the driver's side means that you can barely see around all those mirrors as you enter a roundabout or junction - surely that was not what was intended? Is it just me (and The Boss) or do other Biglorryblog readers have the same problem with the new mirrors/regs? Now click through here for a classic waggon which 'The Boss' says should be enjoyed by the anorak army.
He goes on to say: "Brian, wWhat the French showmen are preserving for posterity a 240 F88 should keep all the oldies on the blog happy for a bit! The Boss."
Well I agree with the Boss, these extra mirrors and the fancy plastic fairings does create more blindspots.
I fully agree about the blindspots with these modern mirrors,the worst offender must be the version 2 Volvo FM/FH even with the modification a couple of years ago its still not good.I think Scania has got it about the best.
It's not only the gradually increasing size of mirrors that are creating ever bigger blindspots, it's the placing of road signs directly in the line of vision and bigger cabs. I don't recall the Volvo F88/9 or F12 having the same blindspots as the FH, or the 2800 Daf having as many blindspots as the XF, or the old MAN and ERF having as many as the TG and the list goes on. The higher and wider they get the more gets lost around them.