France / USA – Vision Systems North America Inc of Melbourne, Florida, USA, a subsidiary of Vision Systems of Brignais, France has been granted a five-year exemption by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to allow the use of its Smart-Vision high-definition camera monitoring system, which negates the requirement for driving mirrors on commercial vehicles. The FMCSA has determined Smart-Vision is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by existing regulations.

Smart-Vision replaces rear-view mirrors with compact high-definition cameras mounted high on the exterior of the vehicle, and interior displays fixed on each A-pillar, to offer various advantages including increased field of view, optimized visibility and reduced driver fatigue. Compared with standard rear-view mirrors, Smart-Vision expands the field of view by an estimated 25% and eliminates lateral blind spots. The solution proposes additional functions such as the suppression of the A pillar blind spot, parking and manoeuvring aid or guidance assistance.