The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) could fail to deliver the safety improvements London Mayor Sadiq Khan seeks according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

The DVS is designed to drive improvements into the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists directly from HGV cabs. It rates them in a star system and eventually certain levels will be banned from London.

The FTA raised its concerns after Transport for London released its star ratings.

Every vehicle over 12 tonnes that qualifies for Euro VI emissions standards has now been given a star rating that Transport for London indicates the standard of vision around the truck from the cab seat. As of 2020 any truck below the ‘One Star’ rating will require vehicle operators to get a safety permit, achieved by fulfilling the requirements of a specially designed ‘Safe System’.

“The whole process of implementing a Direct Vision Standard in London has been incredibly frustrating and disappointing,” said FTA’s head of urban policy, Natalie Chapman. “Especially, since the Mayor seems determined to focus on visibility from the cab, when research shows new technology would deliver far better results.

“FTA’s members take safety very seriously indeed and we have been advising our members operating in London to examine all available safety features when procuring new vehicles.

“In fact, TfL’s long drawn-out process in implementing the Direct Vision Standard is actually delaying the purchase of new safer, cleaner trucks. Operators have been forced to postpone new acquisitions, until they are given adequate detail about the star ratings and the standards required by the new Safe System.”