On Sep. 17, 2020, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing a decision to grant Bosch and Mekra Lang a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with the companies’ CV (Commercial Vehicle) Digital Mirror System installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemption is effective Sep. 17, 2020 and ends Sep. 17, 2025.
Bosch and Mekra Lang applied for an exemption on May 16, 2019 from 49 CFR 393.80(a) to allow its CV Digital Mirror System to be installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision mirrors required on CMVs. FMCSA requested public comment on the petition in the Federal Register published Jan. 30, 2020. FMCSA received three comments, from the American Bus Association and two individuals. ABA supported the petition while the two individuals expressed concerns. FMCSA decided to grant the petition given they believe that use of the CV Digital Mirror System will provide CMV drivers with an enhanced field of view when compared to the required rear-vision mirrors because:
(1) it eliminates the blind spots on both sides of the vehicle created by the required rear-vision mirrors,
(2) the multi-camera system expands the field of view compared to the required rear-vision mirrors by an estimated 25 percent, and
(3) the system uses high definition cameras and monitors that include features such as color night vision, low light sensitivity, and light and glare reduction that together help provide drivers with improved vision in the field of view when compared to traditional rear-vision mirrors.
In the notice, FMCSA emphasizes that this exemption is limited to the Bosch and Mekra Lang CV Digital Mirror System, and does not apply to any other camera-based mirror replacement system/technology. The notice also states that interested parties possessing information that would demonstrate that motor carriers operating CMVs utilizing the Bosch and Mekra Lang CV Digital Mirror System installed as an alternative to two rear-vision mirrors are not achieving the requisite statutory level of safety should immediately notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any such information and, if safety is being compromised or if the continuation of the exemption is not consistent with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), will take immediate steps to revoke the exemption.
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