The latest data from TfL shows that HGVs continue to be disproportionately involved in fatal collisions. Between 2018 and 2020*, HGVs were involved in 41 per cent of collisions where people cycling were killed and 19 per cent of collisions where a pedestrian was killed.

On average, HGVs were involved in 15 per cent of all road deaths over that period, despite making up just over three per cent of vehicle traffic in London. This means that HGVs are five times more likely to be involved in a collision resulting in a fatality, relative to their share of traffic. Each fatality has caused heartbreak and trauma for everyone involved, and each is an unacceptable tragedy. TfL is committed to creating a safer future for everyone in the capital.

From 1 March 2021, the Direct Vision Standard will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be enforced on all roads in London. HGVs will need to meet a minimum one-star rating to enable them to operate in the capital or will need to fit Safe System measures to improve the vehicle's safety.

So far, more than 50,000 safety permits have been issued. However, there remain many thousands of HGVs on London’s roads whose operators have not yet applied for a required free safety permit. HGV owners are advised to check TfL’s online vehicle registration checker to see the star rating of their HGV and apply for a safety permit urgently if they have not already done so. While TfL will process all permit applications as quickly as possible, operators are advised that applications may take between 10 and 28 days to process.

A tighter Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standard will also come into force from 1 March to coincide with enforcement of the Direct Vision Standard. Current LEZ emissions standards set a limit for how much particulate matter (PM) a vehicle may emit. From March there will also be a limit for nitrogen oxides (NOx) for some vehicles, in line with the tough requirements in place for the central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Heavy vehicles including lorries, buses, coaches and specialist vehicles will need to meet Euro VI (NOx and PM) emissions standards or pay a daily charge to drive within the Greater London area. The standards were previously set to take effect at the end of October 2020 but were postponed to give affected businesses more time to meet them as they face intense demands from the coronavirus pandemic.

Vehicle owners can check their compliance with the new LEZ emissions standards by visiting Tfl.gov.uk/lez or searching ‘LEZ’. 

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “Our world-leading Direct Vision Standard will remove the most dangerous lorries from our city’s streets and save lives. With record numbers of Londoners walking and cycling as a result of the pandemic, it’s vital that we do all we can to protect them. I urge all HGV operators to apply for their safety permits as soon as possible as there are now less than two months to go until enforcement begins.”

Christina Calderato, TfL’s Head of Transport Strategy and Planning, said: “Introducing the Direct Vision Standard will be a huge step forward for road safety in London. We’ve worked closely with manufacturers, operators and stakeholders – including RoadPeace and Living Streets – to develop our new lorry safety scheme, which we’re proud to say is the first of its kind.

“We understand that the freight industry has been exceptionally busy during the coronavirus pandemic and as a result we delayed enforcement of the Direct Vision Standard and LEZ until 1 March, giving HGV operators more time to improve the safety and emissions of their vehicles. We have also streamlined our permit system to offer more support to operators who apply by the deadline.

“With less than two months to go until enforcement begins, our latest figures show that there are still many HGV operators working in London who have not applied for a free safety permit. We encourage them to apply as soon as possible to ensure there is enough time for their application to be processed.”

Last year, TfL sent more than 150,000 letters to the registered keepers of HGVs without safety permits observed in Greater London advising of the Direct Vision Standard scheme and encouraging operators to apply for permits ahead of the upcoming deadline, including the need to allow 28 days for permit applications to be processed. Companies such as Tideway, CEMEX and Tarmac have already invested in five-star vehicles, making London’s roads safer for everyone.

Given the huge challenges the freight industry continues to face, from both the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit, TfL had delayed enforcement of the Direct Vision Standard by more than four months to 1 March. To encourage as many applications as possible by the deadline, TfL has now streamlined the application process further by making internal systems improvements to reduce processing time and by training additional staff to assist with enquiries. Applications should now be processed within 10 days of receipt, though applicants are advised that the process may take longer. Meanwhile, TfL’s delivery partner Capita will process single-vehicle applications within one working day of receipt.

Operators who have applied before 1 March or are in the process of having the Safe System equipment fitted but have not yet received their Safety Permit will be added to an “allow list” of vehicles, which will prevent them from incurring Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for up to 90-days from the enforcement date. The new system will require operators to provide details of their applications or planned safety system component installation, where applicable.

The introduction of the Direct Vision Standard forms part of the Mayor of London's Vision Zero plan to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London's transport network by 2041.

Further clarification

Dr Andrew Neather, Strategic communications lead, air quality / freight stakeholder communications, Department of News and External Relations, Transport for London, provided CILT with an update on this announcement and offered more clarity. 

He said: "While we are proceeding with DVS enforcement on 1st March, we have made the concession to HGV operators of developing an “allow list” of vehicles whose owners/operators have begun the Safety Permit application process or are in the process of having safe system components installed on 1st March – but have not yet completed those steps. 

This will prevent these vehicles from incurring Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for operating within the designated area without holding a valid permit as of 1 March 2021, for a defined 90 day period. This system will require those operators to provide details of their applications or planned installation arrangements for safe system equipment, where applicable. Exact details of the requirements for inclusion on the allow list are currently being finalised by TfL.

To be clear, if you are an HGV owner or operator, you will need to check all your vehicles - you can do that by clicking here. If a vehicle meets the standard, you can apply for a permit for it. If a vehicle is rated zero star, you must make arrangements to fit a safe system, then apply for a permit with evidence. From 1 March, we will be enforcing 24 hours a day, every day with those HGVs not holding a permit or on the allow list, or in contravention of permit conditions, liable to a £550 PCN (reduced to £275 if paid within 14 days) for each day the vehicle is driven within the DVS area. 

In addition, in response to operator concerns about aspects of the application process, we have made the following commitments to improve it:

1. Delays caused by the lag time in manufacturers uploading star ratings for TfL to use in its vehicle checker and the refresh of DVLA data: we are now encouraging vehicle manufacturers to issue star-rating certificates at purchase and the majority are receptive. If operators make an application including a manufacturer-issued certificate with the vehicle’s VRM and Star Rating, we can process the application even if its rating is not yet recorded on our lists. Using this method, we do not require a V5C ownership document. This should substantially speed up the process. Meanwhile we have also improved the process for applicants applying after the checker tells them “Vehicle not found”. Applicants can now upload multiple documents (for single vehicles only) to support their applications. In this way they can bypass the delay caused by their vehicle not being in the DVLA data – provided they attach the vehicle’s star rating certificate and proof of its VRM (or their V5C).

2. Perceived delays in applications and responses to emails from operators: we have made a number of improvements to our internal systems which are substantially reducing processing time. We should now be able to process them within 10 days of receipt – though you should bear in mind that it could still take longer. We are also now in the process of training additional staff, which will help speed up completion of multi-vehicle applications and response to enquiries.

3. Delays for vehicles without a certificate that operators know are zero star: we are currently exploring the best options for allowing applicants whose vehicle’s rating cannot be found to be automatically treated as zero star if they wish, provided the applicant confirms that they understand the safe-system modifications that this will involve."