Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permits

The mayor of London wants to reduce serious injuries and fatalities to zero on Greater London’s roads by 2041.

To this end, lorries over 12 tonnes will have to conform to certain standards and have a safety permit. In short, standards to be achieved will relate to such things as visibility including design, mirrors, blind spot cameras, proximity sensors, side under run protection on both sides, audible left turn warnings and prominent pictorial signage.

This is a very wide reaching subject and enforcement is expected to start in March 2021 with fixed penalty fines of up to ￡550 with a discount for early payment in 14 days.

There is a huge set of rules for all this, far too complex to reproduce here, but below is a link to the government/TFL information page, followed by a recap of the recommended standards that will need to be achieved.

Mirrors

Class V and VI mirrors must fulfil the fitment requirements contained in UNECE Regulation 46.2

Camera monitoring systems

Camera monitoring systems should aim to completely eliminate or minimise the remaining vehicle blind spot at the nearside as far as is practical and possible. In-cab monitors should ideally be positioned close to a window edge or existing mirror location (without obscuring the view through the window) to minimise the time the driver needs to take their eyes from other important views to scan the monitor. Monitors only intended to show blind spots related to low speed manoeuvring (i.e. not mirror replacement cameras) may switch off at speeds above 20mph. For best practice guidance on quality of monitor images refer to UNECE Regulation 46 Class V and VI mirror replacement camera monitoring systems.

Sensors

Sensors on rigid vehicles should ensure coverage six metres down the nearside or one metre from the rear of the vehicle, whichever is smaller. Sensors should not activate in relation to roadside furniture or stationary vehicles. In the case of tractor units, these should be suitably positioned to provide sufficient coverage, but preventing activation solely on articulation of the trailer. Sensor systems should operate regardless of whether the direction indicators are activated and may switch off at speeds above 20mph. We also recommend additional front sensors with coverage as defined by the UNECE Regulation 46 Class VI mirror coverage zone.

Checking equipment

Operators should make regular checks and take all reasonable measures to ensure all indirect vision systems and driver alerts remain fully operational. It is the operator’s responsibility for any camera equipment and associated footage to comply with General Data Protection Regulation. It is recommended that indirect vision devices require a minimum amount of driver intervention.