Making London's lorries safer - proposals for changes to the HGV Safety Permit Scheme

The Mayor has adopted Vision Zero for road danger in London with the aim of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from London’s streets by 2041. In 2019, he launched the world leading Direct Vision Standard (DVS) to improve HGV safety and make London’s streets safer. It became enforceable in March 2021. DVS tackles road danger at its source by minimising HGV blind spots which contribute to many tragic deaths and life-changing injuries.  

Fatal collisions involving HGVs and vulnerable road users where vision was a contributory factor have halved since 2018, down from 12 to six. But we must not be complacent. In order to reach the Mayor’s Vision Zero target, we need to go further.   

Under the scheme, operators of HGVs must have a permit for any vehicles entering and operating in Greater London. A permit will automatically be granted upon application if the vehicle meets the minimum DVS star rating. Where vehicles do not meet the minimum standard, operators need to make them safer by fitting a ‘Safe System’. This is a series of vehicle safety measures which are designed to reduce the risks that HGVs present to vulnerable road users.  

We are proposing to create a Progressive Safe System (PSS), which will build on the requirements of the 2019 Safe System, and ensure that operators in London are using the latest safety technology and equipment. We would welcome your views on our proposals for the PSS.  

On this page you can find out about our proposals and their potential impacts, as well as how you can give us your feedback.  

You have until 3 April 2023 to give us your views. 

Evidence from the first year of enforcement has shown reductions in collisions where vision was a contributing factor, but we must not be complacent. In order to reach Vision Zero we will continually seek to reduce collisions wherever possible. A progressive HGV Safety Standard Permit Scheme is key to this.  

DVS was always designed to be a progressive scheme. From the beginning we set out that we would tighten the standard and keep the Safe System under review. From October 2024, the minimum DVS rating for HGVs entering and operating in Greater London moves from one star to three stars. Vehicles that have a two star rating or lower must fit the PSS and provide proof of this to obtain a permit. 

We are now taking the opportunity to review the Safe System requirements to ensure they are progressive by including developments in technology and equipment, as well as reflecting on our experience of the current Safe System. 

Much of what we are proposing seeks to mandate elements of the Safe System that were previously recommendations. We also want to provide clearer performance specifications and improve detection at the front of vehicles. 

Below is a summary of the proposals for the PSS and you can find the full detail about our proposals here. 

Improving indirect vision 

Updating existing guidance on the use of mirrors and mirror-replacement Camera Monitoring Systems (CMS) as technology has improved to allow the use of both systems. Requiring that Camera Monitoring Systems fitted on vehicles must eliminate any remaining blind spots at the nearside. Image 1 illustrates the value of eliminating the blind spot with CMS. Those cyclists shown in green can currently be seen from the cab window without the CMS system, while those shown in red cannot. By installing a CMS system, based on appropriate specifications, all the cyclists shown in image 1 will be visible by the driver.	Image 1
Requiring that sensors must ensure full coverage down the nearside of all vehicles to detect vulnerable road users. They must not activate in relation to roadside furniture or stationary vehicles. Image 2 shows the benefits of installing sensors which are able to cover the full length of a vehicle.	Image 2
Requiring that Moving Off Information Systems (MOIS) must be fitted to the front of a vehicle to prevent collisions at the frontal blind spot zone when a vehicle moves off from rest. Image 3 shows those pedestrians which cannot be seen (highlighted in red) and those that can (in green). By installing MOIS, the sensor system will be able to detect all pedestrians shown in the below image and warn the driver of their presence.	Image 3

 Warning vulnerable road users of intended manoeuvres 

• Requiring that audio warnings must be fitted to all vehicles, including those with left hand drive, to ensure all vehicles operating in London have the ability to warn of an intended manoeuvre

Following feedback from the freight industry we are also seeking to improve the application process for HGV permits: 

We are also exploring the possibility of linking the evidence process for the permit with the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) (including acceptable substitutes to FORS) requirements in the future. 

Looking to the future 

In order to ensure the DVS and PSS remains progressive we want to engage with the industry now about how we can achieve that aim.  

We will seek to review the HGV Safety Permit scheme, including the PSS in 2028 in order to evaluate its effectiveness and ensure we have the safest vehicles on our road network. 

It is estimated that the new PSS will be applied to around 165,000 vehicles which is 90% of the existing fleet operating in London.  

We have commissioned an Independent Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) to consider the likely significant economic, social and environmental impacts and impacts on equalities.  

The IIA identified only minor operational impacts for the freight industry. However, it is acknowledged that timescales could be a challenge due to ongoing supply chain and skills challenges, likely to affect mainly operators with larger fleets.  

The main benefits of the proposals come from reduced road fatalities and serious injuries, plus increased levels of walking and cycling as a result of people feeling safer on the roads. 

Once the consultation has closed, we will consider all the feedback. This will be used to inform the final recommendations we make to London Council’s Transport and Environment Committee, which is the body which manages the HGV Safety Permit scheme. They will decide whether to adopt the recommendations. 

We will publish the final PSS requirements in summer 2023 following analysis of consultation responses and confirmation of the requirements by London Councils. The PSS would become a requirement of the HGV Safety Permit Scheme from October 2024 when the DVS phase two is expected to be formally implemented.