Coroner calls for blind-spot mirrors on trucks

Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell has written to the Department of Transport many times recommending the mandatory installation…

Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell has written to the Department of Transport many times recommending the mandatory installation of mirrors that would alleviate truck drivers' blind spots, an inquest has heard.

However, despite numerous calls from juries at inquests recommending the installation of "cyclops" mirrors on heavy goods vehicles, these mirrors have not become mandatory.

"We have repeatedly written to the department with recommendations of cyclops mirrors in relation to blind spots around heavy goods vehicles," Dr Farrell said.

He made his comments at an inquest into the death of a cyclist who was killed when he entered the blind spot of a truck driver on the roundabout off the East Link toll bridge beside the Point in Dublin.

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He told the court he would now write to the Department of Transport, the Road Safety Authority and Road Haulage Association "to again reiterate our ongoing concern, so that perhaps something positive could come out of this tragedy".

An EU directive will come into force in Ireland on January 26th, 2007, that will make cyclops mirrors a legal requirement on all such vehicles.

However, this law will only apply to new trucks. "It remains to be seen if this directive will deal with the issue," Dr Farrell told the court.

According to Brian Farrell of the National Safety Council, up to eight people are killed annually as a result of truck drivers' blind spots on Irish roads.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Transport said the installation of cyclops mirrors could not become mandatory before the EU directive was enacted. "We cannot make it mandatory for these mirrors to be installed. We need approval from the EU first."

Jimmy Quinn of the Road Haulage Association maintained it was possible for something to be done immediately.

"We have campaigned for several years that these mirrors become mandatory to pass the annual Department of the Environment truck test. Countries are entitled to invoke a rule which is particular to their environment. It should be immediately enforced that all trucks must install these mirrors in order to pass their annual test." He added: "We're frustrated too and in full agreement with the coroners."

The cost of installing a cyclops mirror is about €80, according to Mr Farrell. Dublin city coroner's court heard yesterday that Peter Heffernan (58), Newbridge Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin, died from multiple injuries when a truck hit him as he entered its blind spot on August 5th last. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

The jury also recommended that the footpath leading up to the roundabout from the East Link toll bridge be converted into a cycle-path, as there is only one lane for traffic, making it dangerous for cyclists. They also recommended that a crossing be installed at the roundabout junction so that all pedestrians and cyclists could cross safely.

Dr Farrell said he would pass on their recommendations to the relevant local authorities.

The dead man's son, Richard Heffernan, called for the law to be changed so that his father's death would not be in vain.

"If it is possible to save the life of one more person so that another family doesn't have to go through this then there should absolutely be a change in the law," he said.