The new Reaclear reversing device from Innovative Safety Solutions (ISS) is ready to go into full production after successful trials carried out by Bournemouth Council. 

Reaclear has been designed specifically for the waste management sector to eliminate accidents caused during reversing manoeuvres. The device works by ensuring that every reverse manoeuvre is authorised before it occurs.

The device was tested by Bournemouth Council over a 12-month period on its largest 32-tonne RCV, and has met with wholehearted approval from the council.

'We totally endorse the whole concept of Reaclear,' said principal fleet engineering and depot services manager Paul Hancock. 'As the demographic of town centres across the UK gets tighter and tighter, more safety measures need to be introduced. Having used Reaclear for nearly a year our crews agree that it has enhanced our safety procedures. Essentially, Reaclear ensures that the reversing assistant is doing what they are trained to do'

The reversing assistant carries a hand-held device that acts as a two-way radio, and once it is safe to manoeuvre he or she presses the transmit button to let the driver know they can reverse. If the vehicle is reversed without first receiving a signal, an alarm sounds in the cab and LED warning lights start to flash. A message is also sent to the transport office to determine if further action is required.

Feedback from the Bournemouth Council trials has enabled ISS to refine the design of Reaclear in advance of the product going into full production. Refinements include a tougher handset, an increased reception distance between the handset and the vehicle, and a belt harness to allow the reversing assistant to be hands-free to load bins.

'Once Reaclear is in full production we would definitely install it on all our new RCVs,' said Paul Hancock. 'Making the device a standard part of our specification will ensure that we are operating one of the safest fleets in the country'