Only in Belgium nearly 50 accidents are registrated caused by the blind spot. Victims are mostly the vulnerable road users such as pedestrians,cyclists and bikers. The classic blind spot located at the right side of a truck plays an important role upon analysing those accidents. It should be said, that regrettably ,yearly 5 till 10 perons, amoungst them children and youngsters die, being involved in such accidents. In our neigbouring countries, this situation is very similar and proportional, the figures are corresponding in many ways. If we are looking into the figures published by the Autorney General's office we can notice that the risk groups are allocated in following age categories Age between 0-till 17 years : 27% Age between 18 till 64 years : 50% Age above 64 years: 23% In order to understand the risk, let's define what a blind spot exactly means. The blind spot is the total surface on which the driver has no direct or indirect sight (this via mirrors or cameras installed). Every truck has a number of blind spots in the front, the rear and alongside the truck. We could say by exagerating a bit ; that a driver is for 65% blind for what is happening in these angles. As front mirrors ,in order to elimante risk, for pedistrians using crosswalk and for childeren awaiting at those, are only introduced as from 2007, it will take a while before the fleet of trucks moving through Eurpe will be equiped with this very important mirror. Even though those cannot eliminate completely the total risk, an amrelioration is already to be noted, but still the danger remains ,as a part of the front will stil be invisible for the driver . Even though drivers are trained on regular base and are implementing a zero-tolerance rule in regard to security, this is certainly not enough. it is our corporate responsability to reduce those accidents and our duty to sensitize all possible ages and certainly those who will take the road very shortly independently from their parents. This to the motto : Safe,happy young peaople in a safer environnement" In order to emphasize this awarness we built on our site on of the first miror adjustment places. Schoolds are invited to come with their classes to order site where they will recieve on a playful and for them understandble way an awarness in regard to the dimensions of a truck, the dangers which can be expected on the road. A distinct bycyle route where the presented truck is playing a central role is designed for them it order to make them clear where it is safe to stop and most important of all ,were is is not safe in the neighborhood of a truck and how accident can be avoided. As we feel we should do more, and as we notice that we can not reach all the targetted age-categories, we go with the truck-trailer combination to schools in the region and even sometimes even outside this perimeter and invite them to take part in this awarness programm. The response from those, and this for some younger categories of ages, we are talking ages between 6 and 10 years,is remarkable. But for a very important target group , this for the ages between 10 and 16 years, lesser time is found in the hustle and bustle of the tutorial. But what does loss of time of one hour means in compare with the risk that a young road user can run on a possible accident. This awarness programm is given to them throughout a programm on their proper level of understanding by an instructor and an experienced driver , who is qualified and part of our "parent-hood" team.The instructor has the required background and who is experienced in accompanying children, teenagers and disabled young people. As no trouble is enough and as no engagement is to large enough to be taken in the reduce of fatalaties of vulnerable road users, not only at schools but also at public occasions organised by several cities such as traffic-free days, and /or open company days or at exhibitions we are present. Also on request we will find the time for all to familiarize them with the dangers of the blind spot.
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