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Let us make sure that your HGV complies with the law and supports road safety around Greater London.
Contact MHF (UK) Ltd to make sure you meet Direct Vision Standard requirements
| Features | Cost including fitting (price correct Jan 2022) | |
|---|---|---|
Basic Durite kit (approx 8h fit time)
|
CCTV kit (side camera) Sensor system with driver alert Left turn speaker Warning sign |
£1,500 plus VAT |
Advanced Durite Kit (approx 10h fit time)
|
CCTV kit (side camera) Sensor system with driver alert Left turn speaker Warning sign Low speed trigger module |
£3,000 plus VAT |
The Direct Vision Standard is a new law introduced to reduce road injuries on Greater London’s road network. Since March 2021 HGVs must hold a DVS safety permit if they are to be driven on the capital’s roads.
Vehicles which hold a DVS Safety Permit must have passed stringent checks to ensure that they do not have driver blind spots and that visibility around their vehicle is good from all angles. But not all HGVs will meet the standard. A star rating of 0 means that you need to fit direct vision standard kit to your vehicle so that it complies with the law.
MHF (UK) Ltd stocks a range of direct vision standard equipment from the Durite range. We are available to install these systems to enhance your star rating under the direct vision standard.
In addition you may wish to purchase direct vision standard stickers. These highly visible alerts emphasise blind spot areas and remind other road users and pedestrians that a driver may not see them in areas of limited visibility around their vehicle.
Our experienced team of fitters can advise you about the range of equipment we supply which has been designed specifically to eliminate blind-spots and ensure that your vehicle meets the requirements of the DVS. This ranges from scanners and external cameras to in-cab monitors and external speakers.
Requirements of the DVS are due to be expanded in 2024. Why not plan ahead and futureproof your HGV by upgrading to meet the 2024 obligations in one go, saving your business time and money in the long run?
The DVS was developed in response to the fact that HGV drivers tend to sit far higher in a vehicle and may not see other road users who are lower down particularly on their left-hand (or near) side.
Unfortunately HGV drivers have been known to change lanes or tried to turn left unaware of other road users, causing serious accidents and even deaths.
The DVS requires that all vehicles over 12 tonnes GVW that wish to operate on London’s road network hold a valid DVS safety permit based on the vehicle’s star rating to avoid receiving a penalty charge notice (PCN).
HGVs must undergo an inspection to ascertain how much a driver can see from the cab windows and mirrors. Any resulting blind spots must be measured and a star rating awarded to indicate the level of visibility the vehicle has, ranging from zero stars to five stars.
Introduced by Transport for London (TfL) in October 2020, enforcement of the DVS was delayed until March 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic to give businesses more time to meet the new requirements.
It is hoped that all deaths and serious injuries caused by road collisions in London will be eliminated by 2041.
Full information on the Direct Vision Standard can be found here.
Developed in response to the high rate of collisions in London involving pedestrians, cyclists and HGVs, the Direct Vision Standard Star Rating system identifies a vehicle’s visibility and rates it from zero stars to five stars.
Vehicles that achieve a rating of at least one star will be able to apply for a DVS safety permit from TfL.
The higher the star rating awarded to a vehicle, the better the driver’s visibility, which reduces the risk of close-proximity blind spot collisions, so that drivers have the means they need to safely manoeuvre vehicles and prevent injuries to vulnerable road users.
At the time of writing all vehicles over 12 tonnes wishing to use London’s roads must have a minimum rating of one star and above to be granted a DVS safety permit. This requirement will be raised to three stars in 2024.
A zero-star rated vehicle will have poor driver visibility and will be unable to see a pedestrian standing less than 4.5m away from the side of the cab.
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 the vehicle.
If a vehicle is rated as zero-star it will not be granted a permit unless it meets the Direct Vision Standard “Safe System” which is explained in more detail here.
Transport for London (TfL) continues to work alongside vehicle manufacturers to assign star ratings to their vehicles. If you don’t already know the star rating of your vehicle you should contact TfL to see if we hold rating information in the first instance or if we don’t have that information, then your vehicle manufacturer.
You must check the star rating of your HGVs and take action if necessary to ensure you are compliant and can drive within the DVS zone.
Whether your vehicle is rated as zero star or five stars under the Direct Vision Standard it is always good practice to review the compliance of your vehicles to benefit your status as a responsible employer alongside the obvious safety benefits.
MHF (UK) Ltd offers a comprehensive fitting service to customers to ensure that vehicles meet the requirements of the Direct Vision Standard star rating, Our team would be pleased to discuss your vehicle’s star rating and talk through the range of components that we can fit to enhance its safety.
For vehicles rated as zero stars a number of mitigating safety features should be fitted to your vehicle. These features will enable your vehicle to achieve “Safe System” status. They will allow you to apply for a HGV safety permit and include:
It is worth noting that the requirements for the DVS Safe System are much the same as the Vehicle Safety Equipment requirements S6 from the FORS Silver accreditation.
The DVS safety permit must be held by a vehicle if it is to use the majority of the roads in Greater London. The scheme operates and is enforced 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
All DVS safety permits must be applied for direct from Transport for London – you can follow this link to apply now.
Zero star-rated vehicles with an approved Safe System will be granted a permit until 2024.
One and two star-rated vehicles will be granted permits until 2024.
Three, four and five star-rated vehicles will be granted a 10-year permit.
Permits are free of charge. Providing a vehicle holds a star rating of at least one star and weighs more than 12 tonnes, an application for a single or multiple vehicles can be made here.
Vehicles caught without a DVS safety permit will receive a fine of £550. This may be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days. Transport for London may revoke or suspend a permit if a vehicle is found to be in breach of permit conditions at a later inspection.
Whatever the DVS star rating of your vehicle and whether it is driven around London or not, MHF (UK) Ltd recommends that operators upgrade their vehicles and voluntarily fit them with supplementary safety features to reduce any risk of accidents caused by HGVs to people walking and cycling.
Additional equipment that can be fitted to vehicles includes:
It is recognised that the Direct Vision Standard has the potential to be rolled out as a national or even international standard as the issues it addresses affect all roads and road users equally.
If you think that your vehicle could benefit from the installation of supplementary safety features contact MHF (UK) Ltd to discuss your vehicle the benefits of maximising your drivers’ visibility and road safety.
Direct Vision Standard Tfl video
Direct Vision Standard Tfl map
Direct Vision Standard full information
DVS Safety Permit Application