Page 37 - Linkline Summer 2017
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Student of the Year: Sean Cunningham
A native of Galway, Sean Cunningham from Limerick Institute of Technology won CILT’s annual Student of the Year Award for his project on Investigating Blind Spot Areas on Articulated Trucks. Speaking to Linkline, he outlines his experience over the past year.
In 2016, I returned to college and chose to study Road Transport Technology and Management in LIT. Previous to this, I completed an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic. As part of this course, we were required to do a final year project. For my project, the aim was to look into the blind spot areas that surround an articulated truck, show other road users these areas and design a device to reduce them. A number of accidents on the roads that involve an articulated truck are due to the lack of vision around the vehicle.
“In Ireland’s urban areas, between 2007 and May 2015, 54 Vulnerable Road Users (cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists) were killed in collisions involving trucks. Collisions involving trucks accounted for 20% of urban VRU fatalities” (Road Safety Authority, 2015).
I obtained an articulated truck and found out what a driver can see from his position in the cab of the vehicle and more pertinent to the project, what he cannot see.
Once these areas were identified, I mapped out these areas around the vehicle. I allowed other road users to get into the driver’s seat of an articulated truck and see what it is like from this point of view. I informed them of the dangers so they could become more aware of the blind spots.
I designed a device to inform the driver that something or someone is in the blind spot areas. This device could detect obstacles and inform the driver so he can act accordingly.
By carrying out this research, I hoped to observe and collate the information gathered in order to allow me to design an effective device to enable the driver to assess the blind spots to reduce road accidents. I hope that it will spread awareness of the dangers of blind spots around articulated trucks. Designs would be installed in trucks, buses and other vehicles, where blind spots are a danger in order to reduce accidents and help the drivers. With future prospects of being a maintenance manager, I would like to know that the fleet I manage would be safe to all road users and have the right equipment installed to insure this. I would also like to lecturer or train others around vehicle technology.
Having carried out this research, I now know the extent of the problem of blind spots and can ensure the safety of the drivers and the general public.
If you would like to contact Sean please do so by email: seanc20v@gmail.com
White rectangle outlines the truck. Green is direct view through glass. Orange area is rear view mirrors. Blue is the Cyclops mirror on front windscreen. Red is side mirror over passenger door. Yellow is the wide angle mirror. Black areas are unseen areas.
  Left- Right: International President of CILT Kevin Byrne FCILT presenting Sean Cunningham with the CILT Student of the Year Award and Seona Farrell PhD Consultant
     The CharTered InsTITuTe of LogIsTICs & TransporT 37
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