TfL has strengthened its scheme to protect vulnerable road users in London from the most dangerous heavy goods vehicles.
Under the Direct Vision Standard, HGVs are given a rating between ‘zero-star’ (lowest) and ‘five-star’ (highest) – based on how much the driver can see directly through their cab windows.
Only vehicles with a valid safety permit – those rated ‘one-star’ and above – have been able to operate in London since March 2021.
TfL is now strengthening the minimum safety requirements to reduce the level of risk that HGVs can pose to all road users, especially people walking and cycling.
HGVs over 12 tonnes will now require a minimum three-star DVS rating or to fit an updated system of enhanced safety features – the Progressive Safe System (PSS) – to operate in Greater London.
The system has already shown promising results, with a 62% reduction in the number of vulnerable road users killed by HGVs in 2023 compared to the 2017-19 baseline.
Will Norman, walking and cycling commissioner, said: “London’s world-leading Direct Vision Standard is helping to significantly improve lorry safety in the capital and is already saving the lives of vulnerable road users.
“However, every death and serious injury on our roads is one too many, which is why we are working with London Councils and industry to further strengthen the Direct Vision Standard to ensure lorries operating on London’s roads are even safer.”
Christina Calderato, TfL’s director of strategy, said: “Since we introduced London’s pioneering Direct Vision Standard, we have seen a significant reduction in fatal collisions where vision is a factor in the capital.
“However, there is much more we need to do, to achieve our goal of eradicating deaths and serious injuries from London’s transport network. It’s vital that all vehicles using London’s roads have safety at the forefront of their design and we’re excited that from today HGVs operating in the capital will become even safer.
“We’d also like to thank the freight industry for their work helping to ensure that vehicles fit the new safety requirements.”
Comment on this story