France: Installation of the blind spot warning system for heavy vehicles

By 1 January 2021, all heavy vehicles (goods vehicles and passenger vehicles) will be required to affix a signalling device to their vehicle in such a way that it is visible from the sides and rear of the vehicle. A decree specifying the conditions for affixing and the model of the blind spot signs on these vehicles will be published shortly. This obligation applies to heavy vehicles with a total authorised laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes, including vehicles registered in a State other than France. The decree excludes from its scope of application agricultural and forestry vehicles on the one hand, and winter service vehicles and intervention vehicles of the services managing motorways or dual carriageways on the other. 

Penalty: Failure to comply with this obligation will be punished by a 4th class fine.

Regulatory texts:

• Decree no. 2020-1396 of 17 November 2020 relating to the marking of blind spots on vehicles with a total authorised laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
• Draft decree implementing Article R. 313-32-1 of the French Highway Code relating to blind spot signs on heavy vehicles.

Source: FNTR 

Please find herewith some practical information.

What should operators do to comply with this measure?

It is mandatory that the following 3 signs are clearly visible on each vehicle :

• One on the rear face of the coach, on the right side at a height between 0,9 to 1,5 meter.
• And on each side of the coach, at the front, in the 1st meter (glazed surface excepted) at a height between 0,9 to 1,5 meter.
• The sign can be stuck, fixed or painted on the vehicle.

In addition to the above, the stickers need to resist UV and should not deteriorate through time. Operators need to request for a four-colour digital printing with glossy lamination.

Below a picture of a side view

Where you can find the sticker?

There is no official point of distribution for the stickers, anyone can sell them and thus the price can vary from 0,6€ to 5€. The advice is to consult a supplier that transport operators can trust on the basis of the model provided by the French regulation (attached to this email in FR language only), which is yet to be published). Our colleagues in FR, recommended their own members to a French society named “Graphibus”, who agreed to apply reasonable tariffs no matter the number of stickers ordered. There is no commercial deal with this entity but purely providing the information as some members requested for a reference where they can buy the stickers.

The new obligation, applicable in urban areas in France, is entering into force as foreseen on 1 January 2021. Please be advised that a tolerance period of 12 months will also apply, for all those HGV vehicles, equipped with such stickers which are not fully compliant with the new French requirements, and which have been fixed in a visible way on the sides and the back of the vehicle.

Sources: AFTRI and FNTR