From the second quarter of this year, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will require heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) with maximum laden weight (MLW) exceeding 12 tonnes[1] and buses with MLW exceeding 8 tonnes[2] to install additional blind-spot mirrors. LTA has consulted the industry over the past year on the new requirements, and this is part of continuing efforts by the Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Committee (PCSC)[3] to improve road safety.
2. Such HGVs and buses typically have higher windscreens and window sills, and therefore have blind spots below the windscreen and at the passenger door. The additional mirrors will provide drivers with a better view of the area directly adjacent to the passenger side of the vehicle or below the windscreen, so that they are aware of pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists near their vehicles, especially when turning at traffic junctions or changing lanes.
3. Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Health, and PCSC Chairman, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said, “The committee has been studying safety standards in other countries and saw that having additional mirrors in larger vehicles can help expand the drivers’ field of vision and reduce their blind spots. The PCSC therefore recommended introducing additional blind-spot mirrors in these vehicles to enhance road safety for all. Safety is a shared responsibility and all of us can play a part to reduce the risk of accidents by looking out for each other and behaving responsibly.”
New Heavy Goods Vehicles and Buses
4. New HGVs registered from 1 April 2015 will need to meet either European[4] or Japanese[5] mirror standards. Illustrations of HGVs with mirrors that comply with European or Japanese standards are in Annex A.
5. LTA will also require new buses to be equipped with mirrors to allow drivers to view blind spots on the left and front of the bus. As buses are highly customised to owners’ specifications, this requirement will apply to new buses registered from 1 October 2015 to provide more lead time. Illustrations of buses equipped with such mirrors are in Annex B.
Existing Heavy Goods Vehicles and Buses
6. For existing HGVs and buses, owners can approach their manufacturer’s agent to determine whether their vehicles meet the new standards. If they do not meet the new standards, they can either retrofit their vehicles with the additional blind-spot mirrors mentioned above, or fit a Fresnel lens on the passenger side window, to allow the driver to better see the blind spot directly adjacent to the passenger door (see Annex C).
7. HGVs and buses will be checked for compliance with these new requirements during regular vehicle inspections, from 1 October 2015 onwards. Non-compliant HGVs and buses will not be able to pass the inspections.
8. For enquiries on the new requirements, members of the public can call LTA’s hotline at 1800-CALL LTA (2255-582).
Annex A: Illustrations of Compliant Mirrors for Heavy Goods Vehicles in Accordance to European and Japanese Mirror Standards
Annex B: Illustrations of Compliant Mirrors for Buses
Annex C: Illustrations of a Heavy Goods Vehicle Retrofitted with Fresnel Lens
[1] HGVs with MLW exceeding 12 tonnes include cement mixers, prime movers, tipper trucks, tankers and heavy lorries.
[2] Buses with MLW exceeding 8 tonnes include school buses, omnibuses and coaches.
[3] Established in 2013, the PCSC comprises agencies such as LTA, the Ministry of Education, the Traffic Police and the Singapore Road Safety Council.
[4] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 46 (UNECE R46).
[5] Japanese Safety Regulation Article 44 (JSR44).
