Direct Vision Standards (DVS) have played a role in reducing the number of fatal collisions involving heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in London since being introduced in March 2021. There was a 62% reduction in the number of these collisions as well as fewer serious injuries compared to the 2017-19 baseline. Yet despite these encouraging results, six people were killed and 32 seriously injured in collisions involving HGVs in the capital in 2023.
Transport for London’s (TfL) updated DVS came into effect on 28 October 2024, raising the requirements for HGVs over 12 tonnes travelling into, through, or operating within Greater London in the hope of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on the capital’s roads.
In this article, we explain the importance of DVS compliance and highlight a few Crystal Ball solutions that can help your fleet comply with the updated Direct Vision Standards.
The Importance of DVS Compliance
DVS compliance is essential for fleets and owner-operators for several reasons. The single most important reason why you should ensure compliance is that the DVS was instituted to save lives. While HGVs complete only 4% of the total miles driven in London, they are disproportionately involved in fatal collisions with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
The initial DVS required HGVs to have at least a one-star rating to obtain a safety permit allowing them to operate in, enter, or drive through most of Greater London. From 28 October 2024, all HGVs are required to have at least a three-star rating or to be fitted with a Progressive Safety System (PSS) to eliminate blind spots, warn drivers of vulnerable road users, and warn those road users of vehicle movements. According to the updated Direct Vision Standards, a PSS must include:
- A Camera Monitoring System (CMS) on the vehicle’s nearside.
- Class V and VI mirrors on the vehicle’s nearside or a CMS that replaces them or both.
- A Moving Off Information System (MOIS) at the front of the vehicle.
- A Blind Spot Information System (BSIS) providing full coverage of the vehicle’s nearside.
- Audible warnings to alert road users when the vehicle turns left (or right, if the vehicle is left-hand drive).
- External warning signs on the vehicle.
- Side under-run protection on both sides of the vehicle except where not practicable.
DVS compliance also supports fleet safety standards by making vehicles safer for drivers and other road users. The result should be fewer collisions, which means drivers are spared the psychological toll of injuring or killing someone, fewer expensive vehicle repairs, and fewer insurance claims.
Lastly, you could face hefty fines and a possible ban on using your HGVs in Greater London if your vehicles do not comply with DVS. The scheme is enforced by TfL’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, and if you’re caught driving an HGV without a valid safety permit, you may receive a penalty charge (PCN) of up to £550. Apart from potentially wracking up hefty fines, you could also see your business operations disrupted. DVS compliance can help you avoid these penalties.
Advanced Fleet Compliance Solutions
Thanks to Crystal Ball’s fleet compliance solutions, ensuring that your fleet complies with the updated Direct Vision Standards does not need to be a headache. Our DVS Compliance Kit includes everything you need to ensure your HGV complies with the updated standards, namely a PSS consisting of a MOIS, BSIS, nearside camera system, left-turn warning speaker, and warning signage.
While not required by the updated DVS, our advanced vehicle tracking systems and dash cams can support compliance with your fleet safety standards. Some of the ways they do this include:
Real-Time Data
Our fleet tracking systems and dash cams generate valuable data in real-time and offer insights into key metrics such as driver behaviour, fuel consumption, vehicle performance, and maintenance history. You can use this data to identify areas for improvement, develop and implement strategies for streamlining your operations, maintaining vehicles proactively, boosting productivity, optimising routes, cutting costs, and for making other data-driven decisions.
Accurate Tracking
Equipped with GPS and G-sensor technology, our vehicle tracking systems and dash cams offer you an unrivalled level of fleet visibility. You can use our fleet tracking system to see where every vehicle is and what they’re doing at any given time and to configure geofencing boundaries and alerts for various events. This can help ensure that drivers adhere to optimised pre-determined routes for greater efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, enhanced safety, and compliance with Direct Vision Standards.
Enhanced Driver Monitoring
Together, our vehicle tracking systems and dash cams offer enhanced driver monitoring. Our fleet tracking system monitors drivers for, alerts them to, and scores them on behaviours such as speeding, idling, harsh accelerating, braking, and cornering. You can view individual scores on a leaderboard, enabling you to address problem driving with the relevant drivers.
Our cabin-facing dash cam is equipped with facial recognition technology, enabling it to monitor drivers for behaviours such as using a mobile phone or smoking while driving, distraction (eyes looking to the right or left for too long), yawing, eyes closing for too long, and lowering the head down (falling asleep). We’re working on taking this a step further to include monitoring drivers for seatbelt usage. Whenever the dash cam detects one or more of these behaviours, they audibly alert the driver and send you a video of the incident.
By acting as onboard driving coaches, these technologies help improve safety and ensure compliance with fleet safety standards. Improving driver behaviour can also lead to reduced fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
Optimise Operations and Ensure Compliance
Powered by advanced, innovative technologies and packed with robust features, Crystal Ball’s DVS Compliance Kit, vehicle tracking system, and dash cams are designed to make a difference. Explore our fleet compliance solutions to improve your operations effectively while meeting all the requirements of the updated Direct Vision Standards.