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Fresnel Lenses
December 2007
This article looks at a project the Highways Agency Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Team have implemented to reduce the risk of left hand drive large goods vehicles (LGVs) "side-swiping" other vehicles.
There are up to 500,000 foreign drivers traveling on the UK motorway and trunk road network. Many of these are left-hand drive LGVs. One of the risks and unfortunately common occurrences with these vehicles is ‘sideswiping’ an overtaking vehicle due to the passenger-side blind spot.
Road Safety Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick commented:
"Side-swiping is an issue we are determined to tackle. It's important that all truckers whether from Britain or overseas are able to use our roads safely. However, many drivers here don't realise that left-hand drive lorries can't easily see a car overtaking them on the right, such as on a motorway. This has resulted in more than 400 side-swipe incidents in 2006 alone. As well as being dangerous these incidents cause delays and congestion."
What are Fresnel lenses?
These are placed on the passenger side window giving the driver a view of overtaking vehicles which are in a driver's blind spot.
Originally invented by a French Physicist in the 1820s. Fresnel lenses were designed to reduce the thickness of lenses for special uses. These are then placed on the passenger side window giving the driver a greater view of overtaking vehicles. The use of fresnel lenses to widen the field of view for foreign LGV drivers was identified by John Fitch and his team at VOSA. The 450mm x 300mm plastic lenses which are attached to vehicles' passenger side windows come with instructions in five languages. During the trials it was discovered that fitting Fresnel lenses made a "big difference and was the most cost-effective solution" according to John Fitch, VOSA.
Successful?
Three months before the trial began, the Regional Intelligence Unit collected data on the number of sideswipe incidents in the South East involving left-hand drive LGVs. They then repeated the exercise for the three months after the 40,000 lenses were distributed by Customs and Immigration Officials at the Eurotunnel and numerous French Ports.
Roger Kidd, team leader in the South East Traffic Operations Regional Intelligence Unit in the Highways Agency, commented:
"The number of sideswipes dropped by about 59 per cent during the pilot period and we estimate that would avoid around 300 such incidents annually. It represents savings of about £2million to £5million in delay per annum and would also reduce the number of accidents."
The Future
Steve Forgham, project lead for Incident Prevention in the TIM Programme, says:
"Thanks to the pilot's success, we have rolled out the programme nationally and will have distributed 90,000 lenses at British and French ports, including: Harwich, Hull, Liverpool, Heysham, Immingham and North Killingholme and in France at Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque by the end of 2007."
Has this article been worthwhile reading? Why not take a moment to send us your comments, thoughts or questions. Please e-mail TIMbulletin@highways.gsi.gov.uk.
