Truck blind spot detectors: from October 2023 the new measures for entering Area B in Milan.

The installation of blind spot detectors for trucks needing to enter Area B in Milan is compulsory from 1 October 2023 and represents a fundamental step towards improving safety on city roads by protecting pedestrians, cyclists and motorists. 

In recent years, the increasing flow of commercial vehicles on urban roads has raised concerns about road safety, particularly with regard to the danger of blind spots caused by trucks and lorries. These invisible zones around vehicles have often led to tragic accidents, raising the urgency of finding an effective solution to prevent them.   

 

What the new traffic rules for trucks and lorries include

 

The new rules for trucks, lorries and buses came into force on 1 October 2023 and prohibit circulation in Milan's Area B on weekdays, Monday to Friday from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., for M3 and N3 vehicles that are not equipped with anti-blind spot systems and special stickers indicating the presence of the blind spot.

M3 vehicles are defined as vehicles intended for the transport of persons with more than eight seats and a mass of more than five tonnes, and N3 vehicles are defined as vehicles intended for the transport of goods with a mass of more than 12 tonnes. 

For vehicles not yet fitted with such sensors, there is an exemption, which allows them to circulate until 31 December 2024, provided they are in possession of a document certifying the purchase of a detection system that has not yet been installed. 

For M2 vehicles, intended for the transport of persons with more than eight seats in addition to the driver and a mass not exceeding five tonnes, and N2 vehicles, intended for the transport of goods with a mass of up to 12 tonnes, the bans will instead come into effect in October 2024. Again, there will be an extension for vehicles not yet equipped with blind spot devices until 31 December 2025. 

 

Which anti-blind spot systems will have to be installed

 

Blind spots are the areas around a vehicle, such as a car or truck, that the driver cannot see directly using the rear-view mirrors or looking through the windscreen or side windows. These invisible areas pose a significant risk in terms of road safety, because they can hide pedestrians, cyclists, other vehicles or obstacles that could cause accidents if they are not detected in time.

From 1 October, therefore, the vehicles we mentioned above will have to be equipped with 

• acoustic warning systems, which can detect the presence of cyclists and pedestrians near the front of the vehicle or on the side of the pavement and emit warning signals to encourage an early driver reaction;
• visual warning stickers, which alert cyclists and pedestrians to the presence of the blind spot and the danger of approaching the vehicle in these areas.

 

Warning stickers must be no smaller than 17 centimetres wide x 25 centimetres high and must have a text that can be read by a cyclist or pedestrian at a safe distance from the vehicle. 

In addition, the sticker must be positioned at a height of between 0.90 and 1.50 metres from the ground and there must be three stickers, two on the sides and one on the rear right-hand side. 

 

To stay constantly informed about potential regulatory changes, the latest news on the rules on the circulation of trucks and lorries in Milan's Area B and the rules on blind spot detectors for lorries, please visit the official website of the Municipality of Milan regularly. 

In addition, for in-depth information, tips and updates on directives concerning the transport of dangerous goods by road visit our blog.