Stoneridge Inc. has announced its exemption application to federal law was approved in late-December by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), allowing its MirrorEye camera monitor system (CMS) to be installed as an alternative to conventional rear-vision mirrors currently required on commercial motor vehicles in the United States.
The five-year FMCSA exemption allows MirrorEye-equipped trucks to operate with an integrated system of cameras and digital displays as an alternative to conventional rear-vision mirrors. The exemption applies solely to Stoneridge’s MirrorEye system, making it the only CMS that allows for complete removal of traditional mirrors in the United States, the company says.
“This decision will help bring an innovative driver vision technology to market that will greatly improve the safety of everyone who shares the road,” says Jon DeGaynor, Stoneridge president and CEO. “The MirrorEye camera monitor system empowers truck drivers to avoid potential collisions by the elimination of certain blind spots, expansion of their field of view and increased awareness of the truck’s surroundings. This exemption allows our customers to fully recognize both the safety and fuel economy benefits of MirrorEye.”
Fleets, including Maverick Transportation, J.B. Hunt and Schneider National, have provided vehicles, test drivers and feedback during a fleet evaluation period in order to ensure the MirrorEye CMS product meets driver and fleet requirements. Fleets have driven more than 2 million miles with the MirrorEye system, and it has received outstanding reviews from professional truck drivers, Stoneridge says.
“Thank you to the leaders in the trucking industry who have tested, provided input, and helped validate the effectiveness and reliability of this safety technology,” says DeGaynor. “Stoneridge would like to especially acknowledge the American Trucking Associations, Truckload Carriers Association, Trucking Alliance, Spangenberg Partners and numerous individuals of the trucking community who have supported our mission of improved safety.”
Stephen Fox, Stoneridge vice president of business development, says, “MirrorEye technology was designed and improved based on real input from commercial vehicle drivers during testing. We have collected a tremendous amount of data and challenged the system in real-life scenarios. We are fully confident MirrorEye CMS will provide exceptional reliability and resolve many of the safety issues commercial vehicle drivers currently face.”
Stoneridge says MirrorEye CMS provides the following benefits:
- Greater field of view and elimination of common blind spots: Three views, including wide angle, narrow angle and passenger-side “look-down” cameras, expand the driver’s field of view and eliminate blind spots
- Failsafe design: Independent video processing of multiple camera images ensures that in the unlikely event of an individual camera failure, the other camera images continue to be displayed. Real-time images are continuously displayed without interruption.
- Augmented and enhanced vision quality: High-definition digital cameras provide color night vision, low light sensitivity, glare reduction and trailer panning capabilities.
- Trailer panning tracks the end of the trailer: The CMS automatically tracks the end of the trailer to keep it in view while the vehicle is moving forward. This feature could eliminate right-hand turn collisions with motorists and pedestrians.
In addition to the safety benefits, MirrorEye CMS also enables improved fuel economy via the aerodynamic design of the exterior camera arms. Third-party and real-world testing have shown MirrorEye-equipped vehicles can expect up to 2.5 percent fuel economy improvements, the company says.
