No one is supposed to ignore the law: since Wednesday January 6, 2021, trucks, buses and buses weighing more than 3.5 tonnes must be equipped with stickers indicating their blind spots. An obligation put in place in cities to alert pedestrians and two-wheelers of the dangers represented by these zones invisible to the driver.
These new stickers must be stuck on the side and rear of heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 3,5 tonnes which circulate in urban areas. They represent blind spots with large yellow areas, these spaces invisible from the driver's seat. These areas are particularly dangerous for vulnerable users: pedestrians, cyclists, scooters, motorbikes and scooters who weave through traffic. The objective of these stickers is therefore to alert them to the dangers of blind spots.
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 3% of fatal accidents are due to a blind spot.
- 10% of fatal pedestrian accidents are due to a blind spot.
- 3% of fatal accidents involving motorized two-wheelers are due to a blind spot.
- 8% of fatal cyclist accidents are due to a blind spot.
For the government, this signaling “responds to the need to strengthen their consideration by vulnerable users (cyclists, pedestrians and users of personal transport vehicles) traveling on public roads. » As cycling has exploded due to the health crisis, we have unfortunately seen an increase in mortality among cyclists. It should be noted that this sentence taken from the press release does not include users of motorized two-wheel vehicles... But they are of course affected by this measure!
Vehicles over 3.5 T circulating in town which do not display these yellow, red and black stickers will risk a fine of 135 euros. However, there will be a tolerance for one year for vehicles which already had signage, even if it does not conform to the new model. In addition, European regulations will require the equipment of radars with audible warnings on all new trucks from 2024.
Hoping that this not only gives Road Safety a clear conscience but that everyone opens their eyes on the road!
