The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is urging operators to prepare early for Transport for London’s (TfL) Safer Lorry Scheme, due to go live on 1 September.
From this date, all HGVs operating in the capital must be fitted with additional mirrors and sideguards – but the new regulations are “exceptionally precise” said the FTA and may require expert help to get right.
FTA head of engineering Andy Mair said: “Dimension and installation requirements are extremely complex and operators who have to retrofit their trucks to comply with the scheme need to be confident that sideguards have been put on correctly.”
“As these vehicles are exempt from existing construction regulations, they will not be checked as part of the annual testing examination and operators may only realise that they have incorrectly installed sideguards following enforcement action and fines under the new Safer Lorry Scheme.”
The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will require all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with sideguards and kerb view and front mirrors. The enforcement area is the entire London Low Emission Zone and operators breaching the rules face £50 fixed penalties or £1,000 court fines.
The scheme will be enforced by the police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the joint DfT/TfL-funded Industrial HGV Taskforce. Those who don’t comply will be referred for investigation by the relevant Traffic Commissioner.
Andy said: “The FTA strongly advises operators to check their vehicle types against the exempted vehicle list on TfL’s website, and if they have vehicles which require sideguards and mirrors to be fitted, ensure they have these correctly installed.”
FTA’s Member Advice Centre can be contacted by email at enquiry@fta.co.uk