Six lives are being saved in London every year due to the Direct Vision Standard (DVS), new figures showed.
The number of people killed or seriously injured on the capital’s roads fell last year, from 3710 to 3,696 – the lowest level on record outside of the pandemic-affected years, according to Transport for London (TfL).
Serious injuries to children reduced by 12% to 185, compared to 211 in 2023.
TfL said that despite the progress, 110 people were killed on the roads in 2024, and it is working with London boroughs, the police and other partners to eliminate death and seriously injuries from the streets by 2041.
The annual casualty figures showed that cars continued to be involved in most collisions that killed or seriously injured someone else.
Excess speed remains one of the biggest risks to road users, with around half of the 2024 fatal collisions in London reporting speed as a contributory factor.
However, TfL said the DVS was working and helping to save lives. “TfL also continues to work on a number of major programmes with its partners to make London’s roads and the vehicles using them safer,” it said. “TfL’s world-first Direct Vision Standard, which reduces lethal blind spots on lorries, is already helping to save lives, on average six a year, and prevent many more life-changing injuries.
“Last year, TfL enhanced DVS requirements, with all HGVs over 12 tonnes required to have a three-star rating or fit progressive safe system measures to operate in Greater London.”
Seb Mayor, deputy mayor for transport, said: “These figures show encouraging signs that our efforts to reduce road danger in London are making a difference, but every death or serious injury is one too many and we know there is much more work to do.
“The mayor and I remain fully committed to his vision zero goal of eliminating death and serious injury from London’s roads by 2041.
“That means continuing to expand our safer speed programme, transforming dangerous junctions and investing in safe, high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure.”
