Transport for London has released new data showing that the ‘world-leading’ Direct Vision Standard (DVS) is helping to save lives in London.
Since the lorry safety scheme, which reduces lethal blind spots, was introduced in 2019, an average of six fewer people have been killed and 21 fewer people seriously injured in collisions with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) every year.
This totals 19 fewer deaths and 62 fewer serious injuries since the DVS was enforced (2022-2024).
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.
Last year, TfL strengthened DVS requirements even further, with all HGVs over 12 tonnes required to have a three-star rating or fit Progressive Safe System measures to operate.
Newly published road safety data from 2024 shows that since the DVS was introduced, the number of people walking, cycling or motorcycling killed or seriously injured in a collision with an HGV has fallen from an average of 71 people per year in 2017-2019 to 35 people in 2024.
The number of people killed has fallen from an average of 17 per year (2017-2019) to 11 per year (2022-2024). Over the last three years (2022-24) the number of pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in collisions with HGVs has dropped by more than a third compared with data between 2017-2019. In comparison, over the same period, the reduction across the entire network was 4.5%.
Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said: “Making London’s roads safer for everyone is a key priority and I’m proud to see this new data showing that my Direct Vision Standard is helping to save lives in London.
“I’m committed to eliminating deaths and serious injuries from our roads as part of my Vision Zero Strategy, and I’m determined to keep investing record amounts to reduce road danger, as we continue working to build a better and safer London for everyone.”
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