The DVS (Direct Vision Standard)

Everything YOU Need THero Sectiono Know!

THE DIRECT VISION STANDARD: FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

It will be illegal for any vehicle over 12 tonnes to enter London without the minimum required equipment starting March 1, 2021.

The scheme was designed to improve the safety of all road users, especially vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Despite accounting for only 4% of London's road miles, HGVs are a significant contributor to fatalities, accounting for 23% of pedestrian and 50% of cyclist deaths in 2016. (According to TFL, 2018).

The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) assigns a star rating to HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes, ranging from 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest) (highest). The Direct Vision Standard is based on a measurement of the driver's vision through the HGV cab windows.

The following items will be required to meet the requirements:

An in-cab monitor with a fully functional Blind Spot camera monitoring system.
A side detection sensor system with driver alerts that will be installed on the vehicle's near side.
A vehicle with an audible *left-turn alarm to warn other road users when the vehicle is turning left.
Mirrors of class V and VI for side-underrun protection.
External pictorial stickers and markings must be displayed on vehicles to alert other road users to potential hazards.

All European left-hand side drivers will require the equivalent for the right-hand side blind spot.

What if I don't get a DVS permit by March 1st, 2021?

If a vehicle enters Greater London without a DVS safety permit after March 1, 2021, both the operator and the driver will be fined heavily.

EXTENSION DUE TO COVID-19 UPDATE

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HGV operators who register with TFL and provide documentation before March 1, 2021 will be placed on a "allow list," which gives them a 90-day grace period to comply with the DVS safety requirements starting March 1, 2021. Operators must provide proof of their applications or planned installation arrangements for safe system equipment to their vehicles in order to register.

To submit your DVS Permit Application, please click here.

What is the duration of the DVS safety permit?

Vehicle permits with one and two stars will be valid until 2024. Vehicle safety permits with a rating of three to five stars will be valid for ten years from the date they were issued by the DVS.
When used with Class V and VI mirrors and approved side under-run protection, Parksafe Blind Spot Kits will earn a Three Star rating, ensuring that the DVS permit is valid for ten years.
If you need a Five Star rating, you'll need to modify the vehicle's windows to allow the driver unrestricted vision from the cab to the roadside.