FMCSA Extends Camera System Exemption
In the distant past of February 2019, back when a “corona” was little more than a beer brand in most people’s minds, a company named Stoneridge had its technology approved by the FMCSA for five years.
The company had developed a system of cameras called MirrorEye that were intended not just as a replacement for mirrors, but as a direct upgrade by increasing the field of vision.
Having this system count as an alternative to the typical system of mirrors on a commercial truck was initially going to expire in February 2024, but has since been extended to February 12th, 2029 to provide more testing to see if the system can be a viable high-tech replacement to the standard mirrors.
Details
Nobody is happier about this exemption extension than the CEO of Stoneridge, Jim Zizelman.
“This exemption renewal reinforces the benefits of our MirrorEye system from both a fuel economy and safety perspective,” he said in a statement. “MirrorEye provides enhanced, real-time visibility from nearly every angle of a commercial truck, which can reduce the frequency and severity of accidents, especially when turning, during lane changes, and in close-corner maneuvers. In addition to its important safety benefits, MirrorEye-equipped trucks can achieve a 2-3% increase in fuel savings when traditional mirrors are removed, which translates to roughly 2.5 tons of CO2 reduction annually per vehicle.”
We have not tested Zizelman’s claims ourselves, but the logic behind what he is saying makes sense. In an industry that uses every advantage it can to get the most mileage out of every drop of diesel fuel, perhaps the last greatest obstacle the industry has is the mirrors that stick out on the sides of the vehicle.
Conclusion
If you would like to submit a formal comment (or complaint) about this system of cameras getting more time in the sun, you can submit one at the relevant document at the Federal Register.
Our prediction for the future is that if this technology becomes mainstream, trucks will still be required to have emergency retractable mirrors, in the off chance that the cameras break or cannot access the power needed to function.
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