The haulage industry body has urged the Mayor of London to find more effective ways of achieving zero vehicular harm in the capital.
In October 2019 the first phase of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) begins, which will see HGVs over 12 tonnes entering or operating in Greater London requiring a free safety permit.
But the Freight Transport Association (FTA) is calling for Sadiq Khan to look at other strategies to “deliver a far greater outcome”.
As part of the DVS, Transport for London (TfL) has developed a five-star rating system to determine the amount of direct vision an HGV has. Those that meet the one-star rating will be automatically eligible for a permit and allowed access into London. Those which are zero-star rated will need to prove that they meet the requirements of the new “safe system” to obtain a permit, which includes cameras and an audible left-turn vehicle manoeuvring warning.
“Technological development, along with internationally-agreed design standards and the retiming of deliveries to quieter periods, would provide a more robust and long-term safety solution than DVS alone; visibility from the cab should be viewed as just one aspect of holistic approach to road safety,” said Natalie Chapman, Head of Urban Policy at FTA.
“While FTA is pleased to see TfL has listened closely to our advice and has taken onboard many of our practical suggestions, we hope the team will adopt a more comprehensive range of measures to fast-track zero vehicular harm in the capital.
“In the meantime, we urge logistics businesses to check the star rating of their vehicle fleets as soon as possible.”
