Brigade Electronics has unveiled a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) star rating checker service to help aid fleet managers following the introduction of the London ban on zero-star rating HGVs.

Many fleet operators and logistics businesses could fall foul of the star-rating regulations when one- and two-star rated vehicles are banned from October 2024, unless the vans are fitted with the required safety equipment.

The free-of-charge tool will help fleet operators to quickly determine whether their vehicles are compliant and if any additional safety devices will need to be fitted.

Companies are advised to act now to ensure compliance or risk being excluded from the capital.

The FTA is recommending that businesses operating within the M25 should apply as soon as possible to ensure they can keep using vehicles in the capital once DVS comes into effect.

DVS was launched with the aim of eradicating deaths on the capital’s roads by 2041 by tackling road danger at the source of the problems.

HGV blind spots add to deaths on roads across the world and it is generally agreed that minimising these blind spots will prevent tragic deaths and life-changing injuries.

Although they account for only four% of the overall miles driven in the capital between 2015 and 2017, HGVs were involved in 63% of fatal collisions involving cyclists and 25% involving pedestrians.

The number of people killed on London roads fell to its lowest level in 2018 with 112 deaths, however, the number of serious injuries increased and 79% of deaths were either cyclists, motorcyclists or pedestrians.

DVS was passed by Transport for London last year and the standard will apply to HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes that enter or operate in Greater London.

Find out more about the Direct Vision Standard here.

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