As TfL kicks off the process for hauliers to apply for their London HGV Safety Permits today, the RHA and FTA continue to voice serious concerns over the scheme.

Hauliers have a year from today (28 October) to apply for the permits, as part of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) which launches in October next year.

Under the standard, HGVs over 12 tonnes are rated from zero to five, based on how much drivers can see directly through their cab windows.

Zero-rated vehicles can only operate in London if they fit what TfL describes as a 'safe system', which includes a camera monitoring system, an audible left-turn vehicle manoeuvring warning and sensors before October 2020.

Whilst fitting a safe system does not change a vehicle’s DVS star rating, it raises the vehicle's safety standard, allowing a safety permit to be granted.

RHA policy and public affairs MD Rod Mckenzie questioned the benefits of the scheme this week. He told motortransport.co.uk: "We certainly want to help protect vulnerable road users but we are not convinced this is the way to do it."

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He added: "It appears that the London Mayor is anti-lorry, even though the London’s economy relies on lorries to deliver all it needs. Whichever way hauliers turn there seen to be more barriers, hostility and red tape.

“This is nothing more than a distraction from the serious issues posed by London’s congestion and lack of road investment.”

Christopher Snelling, FTA head of UK policy, called on operators not to leave it until the last minute to apply for their permits. He added: “FTA fully supports the Mayor of London’s ‘Vision Zero’ approach to improving road safety, but we do not believe DVS is the most effective approach – it is a limited and expensive intervention."

“Instead, Sadiq Khan should have focused on the development of technological safety solutions, such as advanced cameras, sensors, and automatic emergency braking which would work to eliminate the element of human error.”

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