FMCSA has granted the first ever exemption for a company to forgo using its rearview mirrors in favor of a camera monitoring system.
Until now, federal law has required trucks to use two side rear-view mirrors. The technology necessary to use cameras while backing or to see the road around a truck is not new. Passenger vehicles have been using cameras for years now, but safety concerns kept the FMCSA from permitting cameras to replace mirrors entirely in large trucks.
Now there’s a camera system for trucks called MirrorEye which the FMCSA claims will be as safe or safer than using mirrors, which qualifies it for an exemption. The system uses sensors, five cameras mounted on the exterior of the truck, and three digital displays.
Stoneridge, the makers of MirrorEye, claims that the camera system is superior to traditional mirrors. They claim their system eliminates common blind spots, automatically pans to keep the end of the trailer in view, and offers aerodynamic benefits that cut fuel consumption by up to 2.5%.
Safety groups have been against camera systems in the past. Image quality, all-weather functionality, light sensitivity, and the possibility of technical issues are all at the top of the list of concerns. Stoneridge claims that those are non-issues for their MirrorEye system.
According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance however, it’s not clear that allowing the cameras has a “proven safety benefit.” The CVSA is also among the groups worried that allowing this change could be difficult for drivers who are used to using mirrors.
But carriers and truck manufacturers are excited by the news. While FMCSA’s exemption currently applies only to this specific after-market camera system, similar systems could be installed by default in new trucks. Daimler Trucks North America already has an exemption request in with the FMCSA to allow them to use cameras instead of mirrors.
Source: fleetowner, overdrive, ttnews, freightwaves, thomasnet, trucks, thetrucker, truckinginfo
One time I folded my ,irrors in and drove for two years hat way. 15 mpg loaded uphill with 80k all the time. I hear you can live stream movies to these new mirrors, I’m in.
First of all, there is not a rear view mirror in a truck. This mirror would be called the side mirror or side view mirror.
I had put side mirrors at the corners of my front bumper 15 years ago. Had a 10″ split screen on my dash. (I still had my mirrors). It gave me much better vision down the sides of my truck. No blind spot for a car to hide in my right side.
I’m sure technology has advanced tremendously in those years. I think it’s one more tool in the basket.
As long as they remain optional, go for it. I’ve been using mirrors for 42 years and they are now second nature. Maybe let the next generation begin with these. Allow us dinosaurs the safety and comfort of familiarity.
I think they will remain optional forever. But I just checked out alot of videos on youtube about this MirrorEye sistem and its actually better then mirrors in many ways. Better and clearer view in all weather conditions and wider angles. Much smaller blind spot areas. Its really good and in my opinion better then traditional mirrors. And for an owner operator like me getting rid of 4 sqare feet of draging flat surface of those mirrors would make difference in fuel economy to. And the fact that you dont have to wipe them on every stop diring rain or snow is great. I am all in
How do they stay clean if you don’t do it? Have you ever looked at traffic cameras on various road conditions sites? Some images are almost impossible to see because of rain, dirt, snow….
I personally think you are better served by having your eyes focused on what is outside rather than glued to a screen.
Somebody somewhere has the idea that driving a truck is the same as playing video games, and that really irritates me
I agree with you 100%, Let these New Millennium CDL Holders with their cell phones and videos go down the road with this. Will not be long before they are watching videos, Netflix and who knows what else on them as they head down the road.
I wonder how they’ll perform in cold climates like here in northern Michigan. My dashboard camera sensor starts to act up when it’s nearing 0°F. Plus road spray freezes on lenses, and you can’t just take out a card and clear it off like you can a regular mirror.
However there could be advantages too, especially for blind side backing if you’re able to adjust the camera position on the fly or even have night vision for those tricky spots at night. And if they can record too like those multiple position camera systems, it can bust some stupid 4-wheelers who like to shove from an on-ramp.
I know Walmarts prototype truck that was presented years ago used a camera mirror system.
I think the way they made them is that they put sorta lips arround the cameras so that they dont get any snow or water on them both stationary or driving. And I think the cameras are actually behind a protective glass cover so you can clean and wipe them when needed.
The manufacturer has a couple videos on their site, they’ve been used in Europe on trucks and busses so I’m sure the cold and weather condition issues are resolved, being able to record the feed would be a great option!
how long does one have to wait until the camera pans again? No way in hell will I use or drive a truck that I don’t have control over. Just one more thing for the ” I can’t drive a truck people that think they can.” How long does it take to see every thing in the cameras view that just a simple leaning over a little to get the view you want? like , where is that that yellow pole ?? This ruling make no sense . In a autonomous truck it is how it is designed . Not a truck with a person in control. Hell just put a blindfold on the drivers, that seems to be how it is going to turnout .It takes far more than a warm butt in the seat and the FMCSA run by a bunch of know nothings making rules that are just unsafe.No wonder so many good safe drivers are leaving the industry.Our roads are not unsafe enough as it is . Lets make laws to speed up the unsafe process.. it matters not how long a person has driven a truck. Some of the new laws are just unsafe for everyone on the roads..
Cameras are run off electricity and all things electrical eventually fail. Have fun with that.
One expensive set of mirrors I tell ya.
One more step into Autonomous Idiocy to eliminate the thought process and
judgement of you the driver.
Two reasons for uptake by industry
– cameras can be recorded, mirrors can’t
– 2.5% fuel savings
No other reason.
Won’t catch me driving one without conventional mirrors.