Dear traffic participants,
Recently the EU has agreed with the amendment on the EU Blind Spot Mirrors and camera systems not only for trucks above 7.5 tons but starting from 3.5 tons.
Unfortunately the EU takes a long time to develop a Directive for retrofitting all existing trucks in all the EU Member states. The experience in the countries ( NL, BE, DK ) that have already this national regulation for all existing trucks is very positive.
So why do the not copy this to all the other EU countries?
Jointly we can save lifes and win happiness to organize this in a short time.
Please send this massage to traffic safety organisation or other road safety related organisations to undersign the open letter as well.
If we work together in close harmony we can reach more in this important issue,
We therefore kindly request you and your organisation to undersign the below mentioned open letter to the members of the European parliament and return this to undersigned at roadsafety@vanwaes.com
Thanking you in advance for your kind support and cooperation ,
Wilbert van Waes
Initiator blind spot solutions
Tel. + 31 6 22 9 33 195
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OPEN LETTER :
To the members of the EU Parliament
Honourable Member,
It is our prime objective to make our roads safer !
We kindly ask you for your attention to co-operate conform to the EU charter 2003 for traffic safety.
An effective measure to reach the goal in reducing traffic accidents by 50 % was applied by legal introduction of anti BLIND SPOT systems on trucks in Holland and Belgium. This example was followed by Denmark in 2004.
The recently amendment (2005/27/EC) on the new regulation (2003/97/EC) for the type-approval of devices for indirect vision for new truck will come into force now only for new trucks starting from January 2006.
In addition of the regulation for new trucks and on the initiative of the EC Commission (EU DGTREN), the Consultant Jacobs Consultancy has made a study on the Cost – Benefits for introducing improved field of vision systems for all registered trucks above 3.5 tons in all EU member states.
Conclusion of the Jacobs report:
1) Cost of Blind Spot accidents are 4.1. to 5.3 times higher than cost of installing a Blind Spot mirror system on all registered trucks in Europe.
2) By legally obliging a Blind Spot mirror for all registered trucks could save more than 1300 traffic fatalities.
3) Most practical solution is to choose for equal systems as already legally in use in Holland, Belgium and Denmark.
The German Parliament has by the end of 2004 voted against the introduction of Blind Spot systems reason being that the German authorities want to wait for the introduction of the new EU directive on improved of field of vision for all registered trucks.
The responsibility to speed up the process for improvement of this field of vision with trucks , to save 1300 traffic death and many more heavily wounded is now entirely in the hands of the EU commission and your parliament .
The only possibility of the German and or other local authorities is to oblige anti blind spot systems on all registered trucks in the City Centres with the result that only half of the blind spot accidents can be avoided.
Since there is an existing technological solution , economically proven , it now all depends on You to increase the political pressure and use Your influence to place this issue high on the priority list for introduction of a new EU directive for Blind Spot mirrors on all registered trucks > 3.5 tons.
With your support many traffic death and wounded persons can be saved!
Many parents of young children will be grateful for your support in this important matter.
Sincerely Yours,
Name Organisation Country