Sarah Lewis
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2021-0251
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 14 Sep 2021
Coroner's Concerns (AI summary)
The absence of mandatory rear cameras on Large Goods Vehicles creates critical blind spots, contributing to collisions with pedestrians during reversing manoeuvres.
View full coroner's concerns
(1) A Large Goods Vehicle was being driven which had reverse warning lights and a reversing alarm. The driver was assisted by 7 mirrors. A pedestrian was stood on the pavement and she was not seen by the driver. It is likely that the driver was checking his nearside mirror or the road around him when the pedestrian stepped out behind the reversing lorry which resulted in a complete blind spot once she was behind the vehicle.
(2) The evidence I heard is that it is not mandatory for Large Goods Vehicles to be fitted with a camera at the rear of the vehicle to assist drivers and prevent this blind spot. A lot of drivers complete journeys alone without a banksman to assist them in safely reversing.
(3) There is no legal requirement for vehicles to have a rear camera and yet this may prevent future deaths. At the very least it would prevent a large number of accidents.
(2) The evidence I heard is that it is not mandatory for Large Goods Vehicles to be fitted with a camera at the rear of the vehicle to assist drivers and prevent this blind spot. A lot of drivers complete journeys alone without a banksman to assist them in safely reversing.
(3) There is no legal requirement for vehicles to have a rear camera and yet this may prevent future deaths. At the very least it would prevent a large number of accidents.
Responses
Action Planned
The DfT is developing a new approval system for vehicles after leaving the EU and plans a call for evidence later this year to gather views on technologies like reversing detection systems, which will inform future legislation on mandatory fitting of these technologies. (AI summary)
The DfT is developing a new approval system for vehicles after leaving the EU and plans a call for evidence later this year to gather views on technologies like reversing detection systems, which will inform future legislation on mandatory fitting of these technologies. (AI summary)
View full response
Dear Mrs Rookes,
Thank you for your report dated 19 July 2021 following the conclusion of your inquest into the death of Sarah Kathleen Elaine Lewis, under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations
2013. The report was received in the Department for Transport (DfT) on 25 August 2021.
I am replying on behalf of the DfT as Head of Vehicle Engineering in International Vehicle Standards, which is the lead division on vehicle construction standards.
During the inquest you heard evidence that the driver of the Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) had reverse warning lights with a reversing alarm and was assisted by seven mirrors. You also heard that it is not a legal requirement for an LGV to have a rear facing camera, which you believe may be effective in preventing future deaths.
All new vehicle types need to be approved prior to their registration and use on UK roads to demonstrate that they comply with a range of technical construction standards. The requirements for indirect vision are set out in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 46 which permits mirrors or camera-monitor systems (CMS) to be fitted to the vehicle to satisfy this requirement. The indirect vision devices fitted to comply with Regulation 46 do not provide a view to the driver directly behind their vehicle.
Department for Transport Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR
Web Site: www.gov.uk/dft
13 October 2021
The DfT has been working at international level to develop appropriate requirements to improve vision for drivers around LGVs. This work includes a reversing detection system using cameras, sensors or a combination of these to enable the driver to be aware of an obstacle or person directly behind their vehicle. The technical requirements for the system have been finalised and were formally agreed earlier this year.
Following the UK leaving the European Union, a new approval system for vehicles being registered for use in Great Britain is being developed. A call for evidence is planned later this year to gather views on the inclusion of a wide range of technologies that are becoming available, including reversing detection systems. The outcome will inform decisions on future legislation to require these technologies to be fitted to new vehicles. We will hold and record your observations on the use of reversing camera systems within the responses to the call for evidence.
I hope you find this information helpful and are reassured that the DfT is engaged in the development of improved vehicle requirements, and that consideration is being given to mandating these to improve protection for vulnerable road users. Head of Vehicle Engineering International Vehicle Standards
Thank you for your report dated 19 July 2021 following the conclusion of your inquest into the death of Sarah Kathleen Elaine Lewis, under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations
2013. The report was received in the Department for Transport (DfT) on 25 August 2021.
I am replying on behalf of the DfT as Head of Vehicle Engineering in International Vehicle Standards, which is the lead division on vehicle construction standards.
During the inquest you heard evidence that the driver of the Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) had reverse warning lights with a reversing alarm and was assisted by seven mirrors. You also heard that it is not a legal requirement for an LGV to have a rear facing camera, which you believe may be effective in preventing future deaths.
All new vehicle types need to be approved prior to their registration and use on UK roads to demonstrate that they comply with a range of technical construction standards. The requirements for indirect vision are set out in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation 46 which permits mirrors or camera-monitor systems (CMS) to be fitted to the vehicle to satisfy this requirement. The indirect vision devices fitted to comply with Regulation 46 do not provide a view to the driver directly behind their vehicle.
Department for Transport Great Minster House 33 Horseferry Road London SW1P 4DR
Web Site: www.gov.uk/dft
13 October 2021
The DfT has been working at international level to develop appropriate requirements to improve vision for drivers around LGVs. This work includes a reversing detection system using cameras, sensors or a combination of these to enable the driver to be aware of an obstacle or person directly behind their vehicle. The technical requirements for the system have been finalised and were formally agreed earlier this year.
Following the UK leaving the European Union, a new approval system for vehicles being registered for use in Great Britain is being developed. A call for evidence is planned later this year to gather views on the inclusion of a wide range of technologies that are becoming available, including reversing detection systems. The outcome will inform decisions on future legislation to require these technologies to be fitted to new vehicles. We will hold and record your observations on the use of reversing camera systems within the responses to the call for evidence.
I hope you find this information helpful and are reassured that the DfT is engaged in the development of improved vehicle requirements, and that consideration is being given to mandating these to improve protection for vulnerable road users. Head of Vehicle Engineering International Vehicle Standards
Part of a Series
2 separate reports were issued from this inquest, each sent to different organisations.
-
2025-0337
Sent to: Department of Health and Social CareAll responded
This report (2021-0251) is shown above.
Sent To
- Department for Transport
Response Status
Linked responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
14 Sep 2021
All responses received
About PFD responses
Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 25 November 2020 I commenced an investigation into the death of Sarah Lewis. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19 July 2021. The conclusion of the inquest was Road Traffic Collision. 1a Multiple injuries 1b 1c II Fluoxetine Toxicity
Circumstances of the Death
On 16 November 2020, Sarah Lewis drove her car to Kennedy's Garage, Lynch Lane, Weymouth, for an MOT. She was standing on the pavement at the junction of Lynch Lane and McKay Close waiting for a taxi. A large goods vehicle was being reversed from Lynch Lane into McKay Close when Ms Lewis started crossing the road behind the lorry. The lorry had its reverse warning lights on and its reversing alarm was clearly audible over the background noise of the industrial estate but it is unclear why Ms Lewis did not hear or see these. The lorry driver did not see Ms Lewis in his mirrors. The lorry struck Ms Lewis at approximately 09.45 on 16 November 2020 causing multiple injuries which were fatal. A post mortem examination revealed a level of Fluoxetine in excess of the therapeutic range and it is unclear what affect this may have had on Ms Lewis.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.