Deaths of pedestrians and cyclists | At least 10 coroners have recommended “antevisors”

At least 10 coroners have recommended the installation of front mirrors on the hood of heavy goods vehicles traveling in urban areas for 20 years, including 3 in the last year, according to a compilation of The Press.

The front mirrors cover two areas – in front and on the right side of the truck – otherwise invisible due to the prominent nose of the majority of North American hoods.

“The installation of two mirrors constitutes an effective, simple and inexpensive solution to improve visibility in these two problematic blind spot areas,” agree the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and the Ministry of Transport of Quebec, which are based on research work from Polytechnique Montréal.

At least 40 pedestrians have died on the island of Montreal since 2000 after disappearing from the sight of the driver in front of a heavy goods vehicle, revealed our investigation published last September.

Quebec nevertheless continues to promote the installation of front view monitors on a voluntary basis, citing concerns of harmonization with the legislation of neighboring provinces and states.

Three preventable accidents

In a report on the death of Dilan Kaya, a 22-year-old young woman caught on June 22 in Saint-Michel, at the intersection of rue Bélair and 22^e Avenue, coroner Jean Brochu emphasizes that the “truck was not equipped with front mirrors allowing the driver to detect the presence of a pedestrian in front”.

This blind spot is cited as the main factor in the tragic accident.

“The police noticed that a person of the size of M^me Kaya was not visible to the truck driver when she was 1.35 m in front of the truck,” he wrote in his analysis published on February 22.

“If we are able to install [sur tous les camions]that would be ideal, it can save lives,” underlined the victim’s brother, Diyar Kaya, in an interview with The Press. “It’s terrible to lose a loved one so young. »

Mr. Brochu recommends that the SAAQ and Transport Canada study possible legislative changes.

In an amended report dated February 23, 2024, coroner Marilynn Morin reviews the death of Andrea Rovere on September 27, 2021. The 31-year-old cyclist was crossing Mont-Royal Avenue as he passed the green light when he was mowed down by a 12-wheel truck which was turning right from avenue du Parc, in Montreal.

The driver, who left the scene of the tragedy, was found guilty of “fleeing following a fatal accident” and served nine months in house arrest. The sentence takes into account the fact that the driver “was never accused of having caused the death of the victim” since he was in a blind spot.

“The use of front-view mirrors is always voluntary,” underlines Coroner Morin’s report, who adds that a best practice guide has been developed by the SAAQ. “To date, it is not possible to state that [sa publication] has made it possible to reduce the number of deaths and accidents,” she notes.

M^me Morin recommends in particular that the authorities consider the mandatory installation of “advance mirrors or technology to detect vulnerable road users for all heavy vehicles already in circulation in Quebec, in order to avoid other deaths” .

In her report, Coroner Morin endorses several of the recommendations published by her colleague Lyne Lamarre after the death of Louise Chauvette, mowed down by a dump truck on July 21, 2022 in Saint-Hyacinthe. The driver claims to have never seen the 65-year-old pedestrian when he made a left turn at low speed.

“In my opinion, if there had been anti-mirrors on the dump truck involved or the presence of detection technology, the driver would, in all likelihood, have been able to see (or detect) M^me Chauvette crossed the street and his death could have been avoided,” the report reads.

A solution “in the meantime”

For now, the Department of Transportation is relying on the goodwill of the trucking industry. “With the aim of improving the safety of vulnerable users around heavy vehicles, Minister Guilbault has integrated several measures into her 2023-2028 Road Safety Action Plan that particularly target heavy trucks,” indicates a spokesperson. from the office of Geneviève Guilbault.

One of the measures could notably “lead to modifications to the requirements for heavy vehicles circulating in Quebec,” she notes.

The European Union and New York State are among the regions that have adopted regulations to mandate front-view mirrors or alternative technological equipment.

For the organization Souliers et bikes phantoms Québec, front mirrors are a solution, but a “small solution”, until trucks are subject to stricter construction standards in terms of direct visibility. But when choosing between the status quo and “installing front view mirrors everywhere”, spokesperson Laurent Deslauriers has no hesitation about his preference: “installing front view mirrors everywhere”.

With the collaboration of Bruno Marcotte, The Press

Read our file “A mirror away from being alive”