Fresnel Lenses in Urban Fleets: a Quasi-Experimental Evaluation to Reduce Blind Spots in Heavy Vehicles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61799/2216-0388.1932Keywords:
Blind spots, Direct visión, Freight transport, Fresnel lens, Road safety, Visual field.Abstract
Urban road crashes remain a major challenge, with heavy goods vehicles frequently involved in collisions affecting vulnerable road users due to blind spots. This study assessed the effectiveness of Fresnel lenses as a passive optical solution to improve nearside visibility. A quasi-experimental design was applied to 20 trucks and 35 drivers in Bogotá over 90 days, installing Fresnel lenses on the passenger-side window and measuring visual field expansion through photographic analysis and driver surveys. Results showed an average 48% increase in nearside coverage, no crashes during the trial, and full acceptance among drivers, who reported greater safety and comfort. Fresnel lenses prove to be an effective, low-cost, and easy-to-implement measure for reducing blind spots in urban fleets, aligned with public policies and international standards, and their integration with active technologies is recommended to maximize protection for vulnerable road users.
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