The Direct Vision Standard comes into force on the 1st March 2021
There are occasions when one learns of the planned introduction of new “Regulations” and the heart sinks with the feeling that once again some distant bureaucrat has come up with a cunning scheme, worthy of Blackadder himself, to add yet another burden and cost onto our industry. With hindsight such initial reactions often disappear when the reality and benefits to the community of such changes hit home. The somewhat visionary (no pun intended) Direct Vision Standard (DVS) brought into being by Transport for London is unique and has never, in my mind, fallen into such a category. In fact, the very opposite would be a truer reflection of my response, as many of us I’m quite sure, have been saddened by the unnecessary accidents and indeed fatalities that have occurred, not as a result of dangerous driving, but as a result of lack of vision.
So the introduction of the Direct Vision Standard on the 1st March 2021 is something to be welcomed and applauded, as it could so easily be one of our own family members innocently injured or worse in an accident when such an incident could have been so easily avoided.
What is the Direct Vision Standard?
ALL goods vehicles over 12 tonnes will require a permit to drive into Greater London, including vehicles from outside of the UK. The Direct Vision Standard has been designed to eliminate blind spots from Heavy Goods vehicles and reduce the risk they pose to both cyclists and pedestrians. Cyclists are almost always at risk of injury or worse when they cycle along the length of the near-side of HGVs that are turning left. HGV drivers are higher up than those of smaller vehicles and often unable to see a cyclist on their near-side making it very easy for them to accidentally turn left or change lanes into their path.
By increasing driver visibility the Direct Vision Standard will reduce the risk of close-proximity blind spot collisions and provide drivers with the equipment they need to manoeuvre safely, preventing injuries to more vulnerable road users. This will certainly help prevent goodness knows how accidents and save otherwise good commercial drivers and other road users from the trauma of unimaginably horrific incidents.
This new standard measures how much a driver can see through their cab windows and mirrors, and how large and significant the resulting blind spots are. It has introduced a star rating to grade heavy goods vehicles from zero (lowest) to five (highest). Drivers in a zero-star vehicle will have poor direct vision and will not be able to see the head and shoulders of a pedestrian who is less than 4.5m away from the cab side. Drivers in a five-star vehicle will have good direct vision and will be able to see pedestrians, motorists and cyclists who are directly next to the cab side of their vehicles.
For more detailed information I would recommend going direct to the Transport for London web site at https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/deliveries-in-london/delivering-safely/direct-vision-in-heavy-goods-vehicles where you will also see the need for a permit even if your vehicle(s) already comply.
The DVS has introduced a 5 star rating system which again, you can read about in detail on the TFL web site https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/deliveries-in-london/delivering-safely/direct-vision-in-heavy-goods-vehicles/dvs-star-ratings-and-safe-system
From this you can see that any HGVs that do not meet the minimum requirement of one star need to comply with the Safe System which requires the installation of extra devices for indirect vision (similar to FORS & CLOCS specifications). Complying with the Safe System will not alter the vehicle’s star rating but will permit you to drive into Greater London.
What you need to do if your vehicle is zero rated
If your vehicle is 0 star rated, you must comply with the requirements of the Safe System. This is a series of vehicle safety measures which aim to improve the overall safety of the HGV.
The following devices are required in order to comply:
- Class V mirror fitted to the nearside of the vehicle.
- Class VI mirror fitted to the front of the vehicle.
- Side under-run protection fitted to both sides of the vehicle except where this is impractical or proves to be impossible. See TfL website for exemptions.
- External pictorial stickers and markings shall we displayed on vehicles to warn vulnerable road users of the hazards around the vehicle.
- A sensor system that alerts the driver to the presence of a vulnerable road user fitted to the nearside of the vehicle.
- Audible vehicle warning to warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left.
- A fully operational camera system fitted to the nearside of the vehicle.
If you find yourself in this situation, be you a single vehicle or fleet operator, our team at Multi Vehicle Technology Ltd can advise, assist and install any alterations that may be required to your vehicle(s). Our factory in Leicester is set up for repair, maintenance and refurbishment services in addition to our well established design and construction facility https://www.multivehicletechnology.co.uk/services/repair-and-maintenance/ . For those tasks that can be performed “on site” we have a team of field based engineers who are available to undertake jobs anywhere in the UK.
If you feel that we may be able to assist then please call Steve Stones on 0116 3260989 or e-mail to stevestones@multivehicletechnology.co.uk
Enforcement
The DVS will be implemented throughout greater London by a decriminalised Traffic Regulation Order, meaning a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) can be issued. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will detect a vehicle which will be checked with TfL’s permit database. Operators/hauliers without a permit may be issued a PCN of £550 and £130 for the driver, even if the vehicle is five star rated every time the vehicle enters Greater London.
