TfL and London Councils progress plans to further improve lorry safety in London

Date: Thursday 15 June 2023

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Transport for London (TfL) and London Councils are moving forward with plans to improve road safety in London by making changes to London's pioneering Direct Vision Standard (DVS) based HGV safety permit scheme, following the decision made by London Councils Transport and Environment Committee.

Under previously agreed arrangements, from 28 October 2024, HGVs over 12 tonnes will be required to have a minimum three-star DVS rating or fit a system of updated safety features - the Progressive Safe System (PSS) - to the vehicle in order to operate in Greater London. In order to give the freight industry sufficient time to buy, fit and test any new safety equipment, there will be a three month grace period from 28 October 2024 for operators to comply with the new PSS. This will be kept under review and in June 2024, London Councils Transport and Environment Committee will consider whether any further extension is needed. The changes aim to further enhance the safety standards of HGVs operating in the capital, thereby reducing the risks to vulnerable road users such as people walking and cycling.  

London's HGV safety permit scheme, first introduced in 2019, requires all operators of HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes to apply for a free safety permit to operate in London, regardless of its DVS star rating. An HGV’s DVS star rating is based on how much the driver can see directly through the vehicle’s cab windows of the area around the vehicle where collisions are most likely to take place.

Data shows that fatal collisions where vision is a contributing factor have reduced by half between 2018 and 2021 (down from 12 to 6). Provisional data also shows that fatal collisions where vision is a contributing factor have also continued to fall from 2021 to 2023 (down from 6 to 3) This shows the importance of the HGV safety permit scheme in reducing road danger in London and achieving the Mayor's Vision Zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from London’s transport network.

253,745 safety permits have been issued, including nearly 6,000 to 5-star vehicles, which provide the highest levels of direct vision. More than 151,000 zero-star HGVs have now had safe systems fitted, improving protection for people walking, cycling or riding e-scooters or motorcycles.

The scheme’s average daily compliance is also very high, with more than 94 per cent of HGVs in London now operating with a safety permit, and hauliers are reporting that they are building DVS requirements into future purchasing decisions.

The current system of additional safety measures was originally developed and consulted on in 2018, and has been reviewed by TfL, reflecting new equipment and technologies available on the market since then. This new updated system will be known as the Progressive Safe System. TfL consulted operators, industry and other stakeholders on its PSS proposals between 14 February and April 3 April 2023. The consultation showed an encouraging level of support (55 per cent) for the principles of DVS, the HGV safety permit scheme and the principles underpinning the Progressive Safe System.

Changes include:   

• Updating existing guidance on the use of mirrors and mirror-replacement Camera Monitoring Systems (CMS)   
• The requirement for CMS fitted on vehicles to eliminate any remaining blind spots on the passenger side
• Moving Off Information Systems (MOIS) fitted to the front of a vehicle to prevent collisions at the frontal blind spot zone when a vehicle moves off from rest     
• Audio warnings fitted to all vehicles, including those with left hand drive to ensure all vehicles operating in London have the ability to warn of an intended manoeuvre.

TfL reviewed all the feedback received as part of the consultation. In response to issues raised, TfL has decided to modify the proposal to mandate sensors to the trailers of articulated vehicles into a recommendation only.

From 28 October 2024, HGVs over 12 tonnes will be required to have a three-star DVS rating or fit the PSS to operate in Greater London. This will mean that zero to two star rated HGVs will now be required to have additional safety equipment if they do not already meet PSS requirements.

In order to give the freight industry sufficient time to buy, fit and test any new safety equipment, there will be a three-month grace period from 28 October 2024 for operators to comply with the new PSS. TfL will work with the industry to monitor the level of readiness to fit PSS measures ahead of the October 2024 launch and assess, in consultation with London Councils, in June 2024 whether an extension to the three-month grace period is needed. To be eligible, operators of existing zero and all one and two star rated vehicles need to register their eligible vehicle(s) with TfL having supplied satisfactory evidence showing they have an appointment with fitters to install the PSS equipment before 31 January 2025. This arrangement would not apply to operators applying for new vehicle Safety Permits after 28th October 2024.

Alongside these changes, a number of user experience improvements, including a tool for operators to check vehicles’ permits, will be made available to optimise the HGV safety permit application process.

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