What is the TfL Direct Vision Standard?

 

What is the Direct Vision Standard?

Transport for London’s (TfL) Direct Vision Standard (DVS) requires all heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 12 tonnes to meet set safety criteria in order to receive a permit to enter and operate in Greater London.

Put simply, DVS measures the visibility an HGV driver has through their cab windows – if visibility is compromised in any way that could pose a risk to vulnerable road users, you won’t get a direct vision permit.

DVS forms part of TfL’s Vision Zero Plan, which was developed to improve the safety of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists in order to eliminate death and serious injury on London’s transport network.

Having been in place since from March 2021, new requirements are being introduced in October 2024, so it is essential to make sure your vehicles meet the updated standard.

HOW LONG IS THE GRACE PERIOD? 

TfL have recently extended the grace period by 3 months. It will now run from 6 months starting on 28th of October 2024 to 4th May 2025, ending at 23.59.

If you think you will need more time to install your PSS system, you can apply for a grace period. You can find more information on this here.

WHAT DOES THE DVS STAR RATING MEAN?

The awarding of safety permits to HGVs is based on the DVS rating scale of zero to five stars. The threshold star rating for vehicles to receive a permit without a PSS condition will be three stars from 28th October 2024.

The DVS star rating scale:

Zero, one, and two-star permits granted before 24th June 2024 are valid until midnight 27the October 2024, by when these permit holders will need to have applied for a new safety permit to demonstrate that the vehicle meets the new requirements to operate in London.

Existing permits for HGVs rated three stars or above will remain valid for the duration stated in your confirmation email. For these vehicles a new safety permit will be granted automatically on application and will last until midnight 28th October 2030.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY VEHICLES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A PERMIT?

The rating of your vehicle will be primarily determined by your vehicle’s manufacturer using the approved HGV DVS technical protocol.

Where the DVS star rating is one star or above, increasing to three stars from October 2024, fleet operators will be able to apply for a safety permit with no further action required.

For newly manufactured vehicles, your vehicle manufacturer will keep a record of DVS star rating for individuals, products and models, and share this with TfL.

Permits are not automatically issued so operators will need to apply for a permit when a new vehicle is added to the fleet.

TfL have made it very easy for you to check you eligibility for the permit on their website – all you have to do is input your vehicle reg and country of registration and it will provide you with your vehicle’s current star rating.

WHAT ARE THE ‘PROGRESSIVE SAFE SYSTEM’ MEASURES?

TfL is very clear in its guidance that you must fit your vehicle with ALL the following equipment, and any deviation from the guidance will result in a fine.

The full details are:

Mirrors
Class V and VI mirrors, or a camera monitoring system if used in place of the mirrors or a combination of both, must be fitted to the vehicle. Class V at the nearside and Class VI to the front.

Camera monitoring systems:
To eliminate the remaining vehicle blind spot at the nearside, a camera monitoring system must be fitted, regardless of whether mirrors are fitted.

In-cab monitors must be positioned close to a window edge or existing mirror location (without obscuring the view through the window) to minimise the time the driver needs to take their eyes off the road to see the monitor.

A mirror replacement camera system may also be used as an alternative to fitting Class V and VI mirrors. Monitors only intended to show blind spots related to low speed manoeuvring may switch off at speeds above 20mph.

An additional camera monitoring system does not need to be fitted where one already exists in the vehicle, and the same safety benefits are achieved.

Warning of intended manoeuvres:
Vehicles must be fitted with audible warning equipment to make nearby pedestrians, cyclists and other road users aware that the vehicle intends to carry out a turning manoeuvre. The volume of the audible warning, measured at one metre from sounder should be between 65 and 88 decibels.

Operators should consider fitting an audible warning system that combines spoken warnings and white noise. It is recommended that audible warning devices require minimal driver intervention.

For left-hand drive vehicles, the audible warning must be fitted to warn people walking and cycling when a vehicle is turning right.

The device should have a manual on/off switch for use between the hours of 23:30 and 07:00.

Blind spot information systems:
Blind spot information systems must be fitted to the vehicle to ensure full coverage down the nearside of the vehicle. Sensors must not activate in response to roadside furniture or stationary vehicles where a collision is imminent.

For articulated vehicles, sensors must be suitably positioned on the tractor unit to provide sufficient coverage of the nearside of the combination but without being activated by the trailer itself.

Sensors must enable detection in the defined zone, and this will extend rearward to areas adjacent to a semi-trailer.

Moving off information systems:
Vehicles must have a front sensor system that activates a proximity information signal to the driver, detecting pedestrians or cyclists entering the critical blind spot area in front of the vehicle when the subject vehicle is stationary with the brakes applied. This signal must be escalated to a collision warning if the driver begins to prepare the vehicle to move off from a resting position.

Front sensor systems must be ‘active’ and able to react to the presence of vulnerable road users. They must not provide false alarms. The system must provide a visual signal to show that it has detected a vulnerable road user in the detection area, as specified in the technical specifications. If the vehicle then moves off with the vulnerable road user detected, then a collision becomes imminent, and an audible alarm signal should sound.

External pictorial stickers and markings:
Warning signage must be displayed on the rear of the rigid vehicle and any trailer unit in use, not the front tractor unit. This must be designed to warn people walking and cycling of the hazards posed when near the vehicle. The signage must not be offensive or give instructional advice to people walking and cycling. The text point size must be legible to a cyclist or pedestrian at a reasonable distance from the vehicle. Signage used should be of at least A3 size.

Side under-run protection:
Vehicles must be fitted with appropriate side under-run protection to minimise the severity of under-run collisions. This must be provided on both sides of the vehicle unless it would be demonstrably impractical on one side. Operators should consider improved sideguard design, such as flat panel sideguard protection.

As a business that’s supported fleet operators for more than 25 years with leading fleet management tools, we know how much of a pain changes in legislation can be, so we’ve launched our DVS Progressive Safe System package to help you meet London’s Direct Vision Standard.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T HAVE A PERMIT?

If you drive a HGV within Greater London without a valid permit, you may receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) of up to £550 – this can be reduced to £275 if paid within 14 days.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A TFL DVS PERMIT?

This can be completed through the TfL website, completely free of charge.

If your vehicle is rated one to five stars, you can apply for a permit without the need to provide any additional evidence, until 28th October 2024.

If your vehicle is rated zero stars, you will need to make you vehicle safer by fitting it with a Progressive Safe System. You will need to prove this when you apply.

All new permits granted from 28th October 2024 will last until 28th October 2030.

There is also the option to apply for 5 to 3,000 vehicles at one time through a multi permit application – to do this you need to download the CSV template on the TfL website.