Brigade camera monitoring systems can replace Class V/VI mirrors
Brigade Electronics has announced that it has achieved R46 compliance for several of its camera monitoring systems, inlcuding the Backeye360 Select system – meaning they can be used in place of a conventional mirror for Class V and Class VI applications.
“Mirrors on HGVs can be bulky, dangerous to pedestrians when the vehicle is moving, easily broken and expensive to replace,” said Brigade.
“Many operators now favour camera monitor systems over certain mirrors for indirect vision. However an operator cannot simply replace a mirror with a camera system.”
The company points to European Directives 2003/97/EC and 2007/38/EC, which require that ‘devices for indirect vision’ are fitted to large goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes to observe the traffic area adjacent to the vehicle which cannot be observed by direct vision.
These can be conventional mirrors, camera-monitors or other devices able to present information about the indirect field of vision to the driver. These areas are Class V (blind spot area directly beside and below the passenger door) and Class VI (blind spot immediately in front of the vehicle).
“To replace mirrors with a camera monitor system and achieve the directives, R46 (UN ECE Regulation No 46) approved products must be used and comply with pre-defined installation guidelines,” said the firm.
“An R46 approved camera monitor system can be used instead of conventional mirrors for the Class V and Class VI areas.”
Designed to assist low speed manoeuvrability, Brigade’s Backeye360 system works by providing the driver with an all-round view of the vehicle in a single image on the in-cab monitor. The system simultaneously blends and stitches the live images from four ultra-wide cameras together to produce a single bird’s-eye-view image, says Brigade – thereby eliminating blind spots.
“Removing mirrors and installing a camera monitor system not only eliminates blind spots, improving safety for vulnerable road users, but also reduces costs from damaged mirrors and bodywork,” the company concluded.
