Posted: January 2021
From January 2021, under the new Van Excellence Code, all new vans entering fleets will be required to fit safety equipment to minimise blind spot collisions.
Logistics UK, formerly the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has not been prescriptive in exactly what needs to be fitted and so operators can use their preferred form of equipment. For instance operators with larger vans may require a reversing alarm and sensors as well as camera monitor systems in the cab, whereas smaller vans may opt for a reversing alarm and palm sized dash cam. Operators may also want to consider a quiet vehicle sounder (QVS) for electric vehicles to warn vulnerable road users that a near silent vehicle is approaching.
Changes to the Van Excellence Standards are set to be discussed in more detail at the first of seven Van Gold Partner Webinars, beginning on 15 February, which are free to attend. Emily Hardy, UK Marketing Manager at Brigade Electronics – sponsors of the event – comments:
“We are delighted the Van Excellence Standards are to include safety technology for new vans entering fleets. This brings vans in line with larger commercial vehicles, particularly in the freight, haulage and construction industries that have been adhering to voluntary schemes including Truck Excellence, FORS and CLOCS for the last decade.
“Brigade recommends a combination of active systems and passive systems to assist the driver and draw their attention to hazards that are in the vehicle’s blind spot. Ultimately if a driver is not looking in the right place at the right time, they will not see a potential problem. Not only do devices for indirect vision improve safety and efficiency but they also reduce costs associated with vehicle damage and insurance premiums.”
To book your place at this webinar, or future Van Gold Partner Webinars, please visit the link below.
*www.logistics.org.uk/vanwebinars
