The truck manufacturer MAN wants to reduce the number of turning accidents with a new digital blind spot assistant that replaces conventional mirrors with cameras and displays.
The all-round view "protects cyclists in particular in the city or, for example, pedestrians at a rest area", announced MAN on Wednesday at the start of a Europe-wide advertising campaign on motorway service stations.
According to the Federal Ministry of Transport, 426 cyclists had a fatal accident in Germany last year. Every day, pedestrians and cyclists are endangered by trucks and buses turning off, "many of these accidents could be avoided by turning assistants". However, the EU forbids national solo attempts and does not prescribe blind spot assistants for new vehicles until July 2024. The Ministry of Transport is already funding the voluntary equipment with up to 1500 euros.
Daimler has been offering its truck buyers turning assistants since 2016, and since June 2021 has been the first manufacturer to offer a version that not only warns the driver, but also brakes them automatically.
The demand for turning assistants is positive in most European markets.
Last year, there was the greatest demand “in Germany and Switzerland, where around 85 percent of the Actros models for which the system is available were ordered with Sideguard Assist,” said Daimler.
MAN customers can buy the OptiView mirror replacement as an option for 2450 euros.
The advertising campaign started on Wednesday at the Schweitenkirchen rest area on the A9 north of Munich and should also go to Poland, Belgium, France, Spain and Italy by August 24.