Direct Vision Standard Technology Installations You Can Trust

If you already have an HGV safety permit for a zero, one, and two-star granted before 24 June 2024 it will be valid until midnight on 27 October 2024. By this time, permit holders will need to have applied for a new safety permit to demonstrate that their vehicle meets the new PSS requirements to operate in London.

If your vehicle is rated zero one or two stars, then you should fit additional safety systems (Progressive safe system)

The Direct Vision Standard affects all Heavy Goods vehicles (HGVs) of more than 12 tonnes. This only applies to HGVs and does not include cars, vans, buses or coaches.

The direct vision standard only applies to HGVs over 12 tonnes. It is not mandatory for vehicles less than 12 tonnes to have an HGV safety permit to operate in London. However different standards such as FORS, CLOCS, HS2 vehicle regs and Mission Zero my require operators to fit similar vehicle safety equipment such as cameras and sensors to vehicles under 12 tonnes.

No, you don’t need to pay to apply for a safety permit – It is free to apply for the HGV safety permit.

To operate an HGV over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight in Greater London, you must have an HGV safety permit. If you don’t follow the DVS requirements or breach the conditions of your safety permit, you may be liable for a penalty charge notice of up to £550. If you pay within 14 days, the amount can be reduced by 50 per cent. This includes not fitting or maintaining the Safe System or PSS equipment on your vehicle where required.

Fleet operators are responsible for determining the DVS rating of their vehicles and for obtaining the relevant permit before they enter the Greater London region, TfL regularly monitor and conducts roadside checks on vehicles to ensure that HGVs operating in London comply with the scheme’s requirements.

If you have an unrated vehicle or one that is rated zero, one, or two stars, you will need to provide visual evidence that your vehicle has the Progressive Safe system installed. To do this, you’ll need to submit two photographs that clearly show the front and nearside of the HGV in the first photo, and the rear and nearside of the vehicle in the second photo.

Both pictures should clearly display the vehicle registration plates and demonstrate that the PSS equipment has been fitted as specified in the technical specifications and guidance. If you have a trailer, you don’t need to submit a separate photo of it, but the second picture should show the rear nearside of the trailer with the vehicle in place.

To get an idea of what is expected, you can check out the examples of good photographic evidence available on TFL’s website at tfl.gov.uk/dvsvisualevidence. After installation, we provide all our customers with images of their Direct Vision Standard systems, which can be used as evidence.

Please note that operators are not required to provide third-party certification for equipment installed for fitting the PSS.

Sensor functionality statement

When applying for vehicles rated with zero, one or two stars, operators must provide a statement that confirms the installation of blind spot and moving off information systems that meet our technical specifications and are in working order.

The statement should be issued by the fitter or the original equipment manufacturer of the product and declare that the sensors installed on the vehicle comply with the approved technical specifications. It should also certify that the blind spot and moving off information systems are fully functional and effective, and installed in compliance with the PSS technical specifications. To support your application, attach the statement to the visual evidence required.

To give the freight industry enough time to obtain, fit and validate new equipment, a limited grace period is available for vehicles that have registered with us by 28 October 2024 and can demonstrate they have taken steps to arrange for the fitting of a PSS. This will be available by exception only and operators should contact TfL’s operations team using the DVS contact details on our website if they wish to take up this option.