The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking public comment on a proposal that would require cross-view mirrors on the rear of delivery trucks to help prevent pedestrian deaths caused by trucks that are backing up. According to the agency, about 114 deaths a year are caused by trucks backing into pedestrians because they can't see them.

NHTSA first suggested cross-view mirrors in 1996. Some public comments at the time indicated that when these mirrors were installed, lives were saved.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters commented that a courier company had more than a 30% reduction in “backing crashes” when rear cross-view mirrors were installed on 65% of their delivery vans. It also commented that backing crashes accounted for more than a quarter of all courier crashes.

An official of Waste Management of North America stated that cameras installed on their trucks proved more effective than mirrors because they weren't affected by glare or dirt. Comments are due January 26. Send your comments to Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.