The vehicle safety system supplier – which is exhibiting at the CLOCS (Construction Logistics and Cyclist Safety) event tomorrow, 26 February, in London – says that while the nearside blind spot has been the main focus until now, offside blind spot devices could become best practice for operators "in the near future".
Emily Hardy, marketing manager, explains: "There is evidence of this growing trend in the new CLOCS standard, which states that 'vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight should be fitted with operational equipment to audibly warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning right'.
"Currently this is only an emerging practice and not something operators have to do. However, with the ever changing specifications, customers are starting to cover the offside in advance, anticipating that they will have to do it eventually anyway."
London-based transport business ELB Partners is one such customer that has gone beyond the requirements of FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) and other scheme specifications, by fitting five cameras to two new Volvo FLs.
One camera is fitted to the offside to cover the driver's blind spot when he is turning right. A second camera is fitted to the rear of the vehicle to assist reversing manoeuvres, and a front camera detects anything in front of the vehicle, beneath the driver's eye line.
The company has also fitted two additional cameras to the nearside, one facing backwards along the length of the vehicle and another on the nearside corner panel, by the wheel arch.