Hauliers could be granted an extra three months to prepare for Transport for London’s new, stricter Direct Vision Standard, according to papers published by London Councils’ transport and environment committee, ahead of a meeting this week.

If the proposal is accepted then the grace period, currently set at three months, will be extended to six months, starting from 28 October this year.

The RHA said this week that it understands that the extension to the grace period will be recommended by Transport for London to councillors at the meeting on 18 July, giving hauliers operating in the capital an extra three months to get their lorries compliant with the new standard.

If the recommendation is accepted, this would mean that enforcement of the new Progressive Safe System (PSS) would begin from 4 May 2025.

Whilst the extension will be welcome, most hauliers consider six months is not long enough to prepare for the new criteria. A recent RHA survey has found 87% of its members want a 12-month extension to the grace period.

Under the new criteria, from the end of October, HGVs over 12 tonnes will be required to have a minimum three-star DVS rating to enter Greater London or face heavy fines.

Vehicles ranked at two stars or below will be required to fit additional safety measures known as the progressive safe system (PSS), with non-compliance leading to a potential penalty charge of up to £550 per operator and £150 for the driver, per vehicle per day.

The cost of upgrading vehicles to meet the DVS criteria is estimated to be anwhere between £1,500 to £9,000 per truck, according to the papers released by the committee.

The RHA has recently published a DVS Explainer document produced by the new standard’s authors Loughborough University to help firms better understand what they need to do to comply

The RHA is also hosting an event at its Worldwide House HQ in Peterborough on Monday 22 July with Loughborough University where operators can find out first-hand about what kit should and shouldn’t do.

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