The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has sanctioned the use of video camera technology as an alternative to conventional rear-view mirrors for truck drivers, giving the green light to a five-year exemption renewal for Stoneridge, Inc.'s MirrorEye® Camera Monitor System (CMS).
What's new: This decision, announced on February 2, 2024, follows a previous five-year exemption granted in 2019 to Stoneridge, enabling commercial motor vehicles equipped with the innovative MirrorEye system to legally operate without traditional mirrors.
- Stoneridge claims the system offers enhanced field of vision, reducing blind spots and driver fatigue by cutting the need for extensive head movement.
- The aerodynamic camera system is also credited with improving fuel economy compared to vehicles with standard mirrors.
- Over 1000 North American vehicles have equipped the MirrorEye system, racking up an estimated 100 million miles without system-related incidents.
- Following its deployment, one major fleet reportedly saw a 65% reduction in accident costs over 24 million miles.
The FMCSA reasons that extending the exemption will continue to offer a level of safety that meets or surpasses traditional safety measures.
Adoption of this camera technology represents an evolving landscape in commercial trucking, aligning with the industry's increasing focus on technological advancements to bolster safety on the roads.