Safety a top priority for Newcastle's fleet

The 30 new refuse trucks, which are used for domestic and commercial waste, and recycling collections, have been fitted with RX Lite live camera recording systems, reverse radar and LED warning signs from vehicle safety technology specialists Innovative Safety Systems Ltd (ISS).

Peter Morton, Fleet Manager, Newcastle City Council: "The safety of the general public is a top priority and this equipment is ensuring that we reduce the risk of any accidents or fatalities. The camera systems provide the driver with 360˚ visibility around the vehicle, and enable us to track and monitor the vehicles during rounds in real-time. The cameras provide additional reassurance and security for our staff and the public. If an incident is reported it is easy to extract the data by the location of the vehicle and investigate any accidents or complaints much more quickly."

The RXLite live camera system from ISS is manufactured using premium grade components to minimise any risk of failure and utilises wide angle HD 720p cameras and an HD in-cab monitor for maximum image clarity.A large number of vehicles are also equipped with the ISS Cyclear™ cyclist warning device, which alerts cyclists when the vehicle is turning left via an audio and visual warning. Cyclear™ also has sensors fitted to the vehicle to detect objects travelling down the left-hand side from the back to the front, and to alert the driver.Added Peter Morton: "There are an increasing number of cyclists on the road and we are installing more cyclist lanes. We want to make sure we have taken every possible measure to keep cyclists safe in Newcastle and maintain our excellent safety record."Stephen Perrin, Sales Manager, ISS: "Newcastle City Council has left no stone unturned in ensuring its fleet meets the maximum safety standards. We are delighted they have opted for our systems and we are providing support and assistance to ensure they gain maximum benefit from the technology."Additional fleet safety measures taken by Newcastle City Council include the installation of full glass doors in line with Direct Vision standards, front emergency auto braking on select vehicles, electric bin lifts to reduce noise pollution and vehicle weighing to eliminate overloading.ISS designs, supplies and maintains a wide range of vehicle safety technology, much of which is manufactured here in the UK.

The ISS product portfolio also includes Reaclear (HGV reversing safety device), the RX3 hard disk recording system, LANLink remote footage download, Auto-stop radar and vehicle-tracking systems.