Concern fleets will struggle to adapt to new HGV safety standards

The commercial fleet industry will need more time to fit safety upgrades to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) before new direct vision regulations take effect from next year.

That’s the view of Steve MacDonald (pictured), founder of commercial fleet safety specialist SM UK.

All HGVs entering Greater London will be required to meet a three-star safety rating from October 28,2024.

Lorries that fall short of the new Direct Vision Standard (DVS) will need to install new advanced warning systems referred to as the Progressive Safe System (PSS) to obtain a permit from Transport for London (TfL).

However, some of the equipment will only become available in January, and because of the sophisticated nature of the new technology, MacDonald argues that installers need special training to properly fit vehicles and ensure their HGVs meet TfL standards.  

MacDonald says that he has already received over 2,430 reservations for the new system after the regulations were announced.

“It is obvious that the industry will need more time to fit these progressive safety kits to the thousands of trucks that will need them in order to operate legally within the designated London area,” he explained. 

“Many fleet managers will find their vehicles either unable to enter London or being fined by TfL for entering London without the necessary permit. 

“There is also a grave concern that some fleet managers may well find themselves fitting equipment that is not fit for purpose and may have been fitted by a technician that doesn’t have the required skill level.

“This will affect the safety of the vehicle and could mean cyclists, walkers and car drivers are at risk.” 

Drivers operating HGVs below the three-star rating will have blind spots and safety systems that are unable to detect walkers and cyclists on the left side of the truck or when crossing the front of their vehicles. 

MacDonald believes that the DVS and new PSS regulations are major steps in improving pedestrian, cyclist and driver safety.

However, to realise their full, effective implementation, like others in the industry, he is urging TfL to push back the compliance deadline to allow operators reasonable time to carry out the technological safety upgrades and driver training. 

Appearing on a recent Fleet News at 10 webinar, Duncan Webb, the AA's fleet director complained that the new rules were only confirmed a couple of months ago and yet fleets are expected to comply with them by October 2024.

“That's a worry and trying to do however many hundreds of thousands of trucks that go in and out of London in a 12-month window is not really feasible," he said.