Little support from importers for IRHA road safety initiative - Caulfield

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has criticised the country’s truck importers over their failure to fit “blind spot” mirrors on all new heavy goods vehicles as standard.

IRHA president Vincent Caulfield confirmed to www.irishtrucker.com that the association had written to the importers seeking support for its campaign to have the mirrors fitted on all new trucks before they come into service.

Caulfield said the initiative received less the whole-hearted support. “We wrote to all the importers. We received courteous replies from some. Others didn’t bother to respond. They didn’t seem to understand the impact this initiative could have on road safety,” he commented.

He added: “Scania took our initiative on board and are fitting the mirrors on all their new trucks, for which they deserve great credit. All the other importers will have to follow suit when the directive comes into force in 2007.”