ProView achieves five-star rating for road user visibility

Having recognised that poor visibility from the cab of certain vehicles contributed to fatalities, the city of Boston’s Vision Zero Task Force sought to assess the blind zones of its own fleet as well as alternative vehicles outside its organisation. This Commonwealth of Massachusetts Direct Vision Study was sponsored by Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and undertaken by the US Department of Transportation’s Volpe Centre.

Visibility is getting worse

The changing design and scale of class 3 and 4 weight vehicles is leading to visibility being reduced to alarming levels. It’s estimated that 50 per cent of heavy-duty vehicles in the US cannot see a child on a crossing and 90 per cent cannot see a child in a cycle lane. Across the country, approximately 25 per cent of fatalities involving trucks and Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) occur as a result of vision-related low-speed manoeuvres. Furthermore, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data illustrates an increase in non-traffic collision fatalities from 225 in 2012 to 543 in 2021 where the blind zone in front of the vehicle is thought to be a contributing factor. Crucially, when drivers have direct vision of a pedestrian in such situations, they can react up to 50 per cent faster.

Testing, testing

Volpe and MassDOT assessed 60 vehicles across both MassDOT’s and ten other municipal fleets, as well as five vehicles it could evaluate at industry events. The results were eye-opening. The study compiled the nearest point at which an adult and child are visible to a driver at a standard crossing or junction, which was overlaid with a five-star rating system.

See more with ProView

The report awarded Dennis Eagle’s ProView five stars, placing it at the top of the chart for adult and child visibility at a crossing. The ProView has 165 square metres of blind zone area at ground level within a 20-metre radius, which is significantly less than the competition, providing ProView drivers better visibility of VRUs. The distance to see the pedestrians at a crossing for the ProView was just 3.49ft, whereas this figure was 15ft for some trucks. ProView was also the only vehicle that enabled the driver to see a child in the cycle lane.

“Dennis Eagle’s ‘Direct Vision’ mission started in Europe with schemes such as Transport for London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS), where Dennis Eagle earned the coveted five stars for direct vision, the only truck to do it with a slam door cab,” says Charlie Everitt, Dennis Eagle’s sales operation manager.  “ProView is designed to the same core principles with safety for both operators and vulnerable road users key to our design.”

Awareness is rising

Quality Truck Center, the leading seller of Dennis Eagle trucks in the US for the past three years, is well placed to witness how awareness is changing as well as the benefits better visibility and safer designs bring. Based in Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, Quality Truck Center’s CEO, Kevin Clifford, brings a unique perspective shaped by 30 years of experience driving, selling and renting trucks. His current rental fleet includes 1,000 vehicles, giving him deep insight into how trucks fare in different hands.

“We recently participated in a demonstration at the Transportation Research Board’s annual meeting,” says Kevin. The demonstration featured a 100ft-by-100ft booth with both a traditional truck and a Dennis Eagle ProView positioned at a mocked-up intersection. The scene included adult and child figures ranging from three to six feet tall to simulate real-world visibility scenarios. “Once attendees sat inside the cabs of both vehicles, it was a real ‘Aha!’ moment. For many, it was the first time they truly understood the visibility challenges of traditional trucks.” According to Kevin, these hands-on experiences are key to driving change. “This was by far the best demonstration of how limited visibility is in older trucks. Once you experience a truck with a five-star Direct Vision rating, you can’t help but talk about it—and that’s how the message spreads.”

Benefits for operator and staff

With extensive experience working with fleets of all sizes across the Mid-Atlantic region, Kevin knows how thoughtful design can improve safety and reduce stress for operators. “I’ve been that guy who has to get into a truck at 3 am,” he shares. “With a ProView, you’ve got the lowest entry step, wide and sturdy access, and a comfortable cabin that reduces stress.”

Driver turnover and recruitment are ongoing challenges for fleets, but Kevin believes that modern trucks like the ProView offer a solution. “Drivers finish a full day and don’t feel as fatigued as they do with older cabs,” says Kevin. “The quiet, smooth operation really makes a difference. The design’s improved visibility also makes it an easy truck to drive for people of all heights, making it more inclusive. Plus, with the improved visibility, they don’t have to strain to see mailboxes or street signs, which reduces both accidents and repair costs. You can see it in the yards that these trucks are in much better shape and cared for by their drivers.”

Reducing fatigue

In addition to better visibility, a quieter cab helps reduce driver fatigue and heightens awareness of external sounds. “The noise level is at least half that of a traditional truck,” Kevin notes. “Not only is the ride less tiring, but you’re more likely to hear someone shouting outside if needed.”

While ProView trucks may have a higher initial cost, Kevin believes they are a sound investment. “By adding ProView vehicles to your fleet, you’re investing in your drivers’ well-being and retention. As we talk about creating safer neighbourhoods, these trucks play a small but crucial role in that cultural shift toward greater safety and sustainability.”

Safer sourcing

In a bid to further improve road safety, it’s hoped that other agencies, municipalities and contractors prompt relevant parties to prioritise and purchase direct vision vehicles whenever possible in the same way that environmentally-friendly vehicles are given precedence.

“In recent years we have partnered with Together for Safer Roads (TSR), bringing awareness of the importance of direct vision, specifically for Class 8 trucks. We are proud to offer one of the safest trucks in the class, with five-star forward vision and three-star side vision,” adds Charlie. “We won’t stop looking for improvements. We are looking forward to spreading the word on direct vision with the support of Together for Safer Roads, and organisations such as MassDOT; and aim to make roads across North America a safer place for all.”