So, you don't actually know what the law says and just think it's common sense to have two mirrors. FWIW, I agree with you because I can't think of a single case where an offside mirror is required where a nearside mirror would not be beneficial - and most mirrors are not expensive. However, AFAICT the law doesn't require two in all cases.
I think it important to differentiate between common sense and the law if only to help prevent some numpty from the ministry who doesn't know the law from giving someone with a completely legal outfit a lot of grief.
Quote: Originally posted by Tigermouse on 01/5/2008
Quote: Originally posted by Milenco on 24/4/2008
We make and sell perfectly safe and legal e-marked mirrors from as little as £5.24 each.
Can you tell me where these are obtainable please? Certainly not in my local camping/caravan shop!
I can tell you - Waudbys, who're selling them for £4.95. I only found out the were Milencos because I phoned to check they were e-marked, and Mr Waudby told me so.
I just got off the phone to the Caravan Club. They thanked me for offering my information but say they had already become aware through other channels of the possibility of significant errors in the information that Milenco provided that formed the basis of their article in this month's magazine. They're reviewing the situation and will probably publish a correction next month.
In the meantime, I can now categorically state that:
There are one or more routes to compliance with the current requirements that do not require e-marking. Thus, although e-marking is preferred, it is not strictly required, and those unmarked mirrors could well be legal.
Both forms of e-marking - a lower case "e" in a rectangle and an upper-case "E" in a circle - are acceptable for cars first used before the 26th January 2010. The difference is that (assuming Italian made mirrors) "[e3]" signifies compliance with an EC Directive while "(E3)" signifies compliance with ECE Regulation 46.
For cars first used on or after 26th January 2010, mirrors must comply with 2003/97/EEC or ECE Reg 46. You may not use unmarked mirrors or mirrors that comply with the older Directives on 2010 or later cars.
I am also convinced that only one towing mirror is required for current outfits that have adequate view to the rear via an interior device for indirect vision (e.g. an interior mirror or a rear-view camera). However, two mirrors will be required for cars first used on or after the 2010 cut-off date.
Also, the requirement to be able to see down both sides and 4m of the road either side at 20m behind the outfit seems to be introduced with ECE Reg 46, which only becomes mandatory in 2010. Prior to that, the only regulations I can find are the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2001, which describes field of view with reference to marks and poles laid out according to an annexed diagram, and seems to apply only at the time of testing for approval.
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Topic: mirrors
