As of January 1, 2021, blind spot signaling for commercial vehicles over 3.5 tons operating in urban areas becomes mandatory in France!
Vehicles will have to be equipped with special warning markings (25 x 17 cm stickers) on both sides and at the rear to warn pedestrians and cyclists of the danger of blind spots.
See installation instructions:
For a road assembly (tractor + semi-trailer) you need at least 3 stickers.
If blind spots can be easily reduced in a car or van, in a heavy commercial vehicle such as a truck, bus or coach, they are difficult to eliminate. Size and driving position are the cause of blind spots, and they cannot be completely eliminated, even if vehicles are equipped with assistance systems.
The decision was taken to further protect vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) from being stuck in those corners.
In the city, a big danger for cyclists or pedestrians is the blind spot of heavy vehicles. For example, if a truck or bus is at a traffic light and wants to turn left or right, due to blind spots, the driver may not notice the presence of a pedestrian or cyclist. To prevent these users from staying in those blind spots, they need to be informed about them.
Fines
If the stickers are not applied at all or are applied incorrectly (see specifications Decree no. 2020-1396 of November 17, 2020), the driver/transporter risks a fine between 135 euros and 750 euros. Careful!
Frequent questions
Which vehicles are affected?
- Any vehicle with a maximum authorized weight of more than 3.5 tonnes.
Which vehicles are exempt from this obligation?
- agricultural and forestry vehicles;
- vehicles specific to winter activities;
- the intervention vehicles of the highway and secondary road management services;
- wood transport vehicles (cutting truck)
- motor vehicles and towed vehicles, for which from a structural/technical point of view* it is not possible to apply side and/or rear signs.
How can the signage be applied to the vehicle?
- Soldering;
- Rivet;
- Painting/Drawing – to keep the shape/size/colors identical
- The insignia in the pocket applied/glued.
- Any other means of firm fixation;
Are vehicles registered in other countries subject to this obligation?
If they already have, on the side and rear, an indicator intended to indicate the presence of blind spots under the legislation of another EU Member State, no additional markings will be required.
What about vehicles already equipped with a model that does not conform to the model presented in the annex to the project?
If these vehicles are fitted, on the side and rear, before 31 March 2021, they will only be considered legal for a period of 12 months after the order is published in the official gazette.
Where should signage be applied?
The signage shall be placed in such a way that it is visible in all situations and in such a way that it does not obstruct the visibility of other regulatory plates, vehicle inscriptions, the visibility of lights and signaling devices, as well as the driver’s field of vision.
Are there regulatory requirements for signage placement?
Yes. The signage must comply with a specific location provided for in Article 2.
The marking must be applied to the rear of the vehicle to the right of the longitudinal median plane (between 0.9 and 1.5 m from the ground), as well as to the side, on each side, except for glass surfaces, at a distance of 1m from the front and a height between 0.9 and 1.5 m from the ground.
Are there exceptions to this positioning?
Yes, in case of technical impossibility.*
Note*: Technical impossibility corresponds to the impossibility of fixing the signage in the perimeter established by the decree (for example: glazed surface).
Deviation from height requirements:
- Motor vehicles and towed vehicles, for which it is technically impossible to comply with the height requirement above the ground for signaling, the signs will be placed at a height as close as possible to that prescribed in Article 2 of this decree and within the limit of 2.10 meters.
Deviation from requirements for lateral positioning:
- Vehicles with direct vision systems at the bottom of the doors or windows are equipped with indicators placed at a distance from the vehicle as close as possible to that provided for in articles 2 of this decree and within the limit of 3 meters. The distance of 3 meters may be waived when the structure of the vehicle does not allow the positioning of the signs in accordance with the provisions of this article without obstructing part of the windows.
- The positioning criteria for side signs do not apply to towed vehicles for which there is a technical impossibility. These vehicles carry the side markings in a position compatible with their technical characteristics.
Deviation from rear positioning requirements:
- The criteria for the positioning of rear signaling do not apply to motor and towed vehicles for which there is a technical impossibility. These vehicles are marked on the front and back in a location compatible with their technical characteristics.
Examples: container ships; – car doors; – tractors for semi-trailers; – tank vehicles; – platform vehicles; – arms for removable loads; – strollers, etc.
The regulation also applies to vehicles registered outside France, but if they are already provided with warning signs in accordance with the legislation of another EU member state, the French control authorities will accept these signs.
