RTS Waste's entire fleet of 40 vehicles is being fitted with safety equipment taking it beyond the FORS standard with the help of Brigade Electronics.
The waste management and skip service specialist that operates in London, Kent and Somerset, has a mixed fleet of 40 vehicles, ranging from 3.5 tonne caged vehicles up to 44 tonne roll-ons, skip lorries and articulated vehicles.
The vehicles will be equipped with Brigade Electronics' full suite of systems including the Backeye360 for a birds-eye view around the vehicle and a four-way camera system which records with Brigade's MDR.
It also features the Sidescan sensor system which is fitted to the nearside of the vehicle to detect cyclists in the blind spot when a vehicle is turning left and then alerting the driver with an audible warning to look at his monitor.
And Backchat provides a real speech warning to the cyclist or vulnerable road user, saying 'Caution this truck is turning'.
Sidescan and Backchat are also fitted to the right hand side of the vehicle for the ultimate safety specification.
Finally Brigade's bbs-tek white sound reversing alarms are fitted to the rear of the vehicle to warn pedestrians that the vehicle is manoeuvring without causing a noise nuisance.
Matt Jeffrey, transport manager at RTS Waste, said: 'Brigade's products are excellent quality but what really cemented the relationship for us was the service we received from one of Brigade's fitting and supply partners, Advanced Vehicle Alarms based in Lee High Road, South East London.
'They provide retail installation on a commercial vehicle and they treat all the lorries with the greatest care. They don't cut back on quality or service, are always willing to help and try different ways of doing things. They really are an asset to the safety and compliance of our business.
'The driver's love it. If they haven't done anything wrong it protects them and even if they have done something wrong, it helps them to learn not to do it again'
RTS Waste has also reaped benefits from costs savings associated with fitting Brigade's products. Three years ago their insurance premiums were excessively high and they were paying out for disputed claims. Now their premiums are down and pay-outs have been reduced. In short the Brigade systems have more than covered their own cost.
