The RHA said it was continuing to engage with Transport for London (TfL) about issues surrounding the direct vision standard’s forthcoming changes, despite pre-election rules being in place.

The mayoral election takes place on 2 May with the current London mayor Sadiq Khan bidding to serve a historic third term.

However, there are 12 other candidates vying to take control, including the Conservative’s Susan Hall, the Liberal Democrats’ Rob Blackie and independent Count Binface.

Earlier this year, the RHA met with TfL to discuss operators’ concerns about the progressive safe system (PSS) being introduced in October for vehicles over 12 tonnes, which builds on the DVS with new technology designed to improve road safety.

The business group highlighted the timescales being imposed on getting fleets compliant and if there were enough technicians to fit the kit to trucks.

RHA MD Richard Smith said it had written to TfL asking how it can help resolve the issues highlighted by hauliers and said this would continue even though restrictions were in place during a pre-election period.

Smith said: “Our correspondence coincides with the mayoral election, where well-established protocols apply on what TfL can discuss. We believe however that technical discussions can take place during the election period, and we will continue making representations accordingly.

“In addition, we continue to engage with kit suppliers and installers to inform the issues to be resolved with TfL.

“We are clear that operators must be fully supported so that clarity on how to comply with the new criteria is established, with the grace period extended appropriately to accommodate any changes.”

The RHA has canvassed operators about the DVS and Smith said some of the findings made “predictably bleak reading”, with many saying they did not think they’d be compliant by the 28 October launch of the PSS, raising concerns some hauliers will avoid the Capital altogether.

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