Roadmap aims to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries by enhancing driver visibility

Together for Safer Roads (TSR) has released its new Direct Vision Transition Guide: An Operator's Guide to Transforming Fleets for Safety; a guide that addresses the critical issue of blind zones in commercial trucks, and offers a comprehensive roadmap to reducing crashes, fatalities, and injuries by enhancing driver visibility. 

"The Direct Vision Transition Guide demonstrates the power of collaboration that is the foundation of our work," says Peter Goldwasser, executive director of Together for Safer Roads. "Members have contributed their valuable expertise in fleet management and truck design, as well as road testing the Direct Vision 5-Star Rating Visibility Tool. Together we have created a comprehensive resource that brings us closer to the shared vision of safer roads for all."

The guide was written to provide fleet operators in the public and private sectors with clear information on why visibility is an issue and what they can do about it, and draw awareness to the role that driver visibility plays in roadway fatalities in the U.S. 

It offers fleet operators step-by-step directions for measuring the visibility of vehicles in their existing fleet, using TSR's 5-Star Rating Toolkit, and identifies direct vision vehicles that are available on the U.S. market. The guide also recognizes fleet operators and manufacturers who are leading the way to safer streets by adding direct vision trucks to their fleets.

Insights provided by the guide include:

• Public and private fleet operators can reduce roadway crashes, fatalities, and injuries by including direct vision trucks in their fleets. Data from London, where trucks have been required to meet a direct vision standard since 2019, shows a 75 percent reduction in fatal crashes and a 64 percent reduction in crashes causing severe injuries where vision was a factor.
• Direct vision trucks are much safer than conventional cabs. Studies found that driving a traditional cab resulted in a 23 percent increase in pedestrian collisions versus trucks optimized for direct vision.
• TSR's 5-Star Rating Toolkit allows fleet operators to easily measure the visibility of their current fleet vehicles. This information can be used to guide future procurement decisions or decide on operations decisions (such as using trucks with better visibility in more urbanized areas).
• Truck drivers responded favourably to the opportunity to drive direct vision trucks. Drivers surveyed reported that improved visibility led to less stress and fatigue, while low-entry cab design reduced falls and other workplace accidents.

Direct vision vehicle requirements align with electric vehicle designs

"Desire for direct vision trucks is growing in the U.S. and there are an increasing number of these trucks for sale here. The cab design changes that improve visibility, such as a lower cab, increased windows, and changes to hood size, also dovetail with design needs and opportunities of electric vehicles," says Goldwasser. "As fleet operators seek to transition to electric vehicles, they can also address road safety by looking at direct vision vehicles."

The Direct Vision Transition Guide identifies direct vision vehicles that are available in the U.S. market and spotlights fleet operators and manufacturers who are investing in safety. 

"America exceeds its peer countries in roadway deaths, yet we can end this dubious distinction with smart policy and collective action," says U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin. "I commend Together for Safer Roads for their vision and focus on reducing the fatal risks that pedestrians and cyclists face from blind zones and poor driver visibility in large heavy-duty trucks. Their new guide offers important insights on how high-vision trucks can help vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators become part of the solution and make our roads safer for everyone."

Industry experts are unanimous with their endorsements for the new guide. "With pedestrian deaths at their highest level in 40 years, it's more important than ever to encourage vehicle designs that will improve safety for all road users," says Jessica Cicchino, senior vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). "This guide is a welcome roadmap for fleets to invest in safety by taking driver visibility into account in their vehicle purchases."