Direct Vision Standard and Safety Permit for HGVs
HGV Safety Permit conditions for the Direct Vision Standard (Progressive Safe System - conditions effective from 24 June 2024)
Greater London (Restriction of Goods Vehicles) Traffic Order 1985 - London Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Safety Permit Scheme
Conditions attached to an HGV Safety Permit
The HGV safety permit conditions were approved on 21 March 2019 by London Councils Transport & Environment Committee ("TEC") to apply to all HGV Safety Permits granted under the London HGV Safety Permit Scheme ("Scheme") provisions of the Greater London (Restriction of Goods Vehicles) Traffic Order 1985 ("Traffic Order", as amended).
Under the Scheme approved in 2019, the minimum Direct Vision Standard (DVS) star rating for a vehicle subject to the Scheme automatically increases from one star to three stars from 28 October 2024.
The vehicle safety measures to be included in the new Progressive Safe System and the exemptions (whole or partial) from those measures were reviewed and consulted on in Spring 2023 and approved by TEC on 8 June 2023.
TfL updated these permit conditions in June 2024 to reflect the new three star minimum DVS rating and the introduction of the Progressive Safe System vehicle safety measures from 24 June 2024. The updated conditions set out below will apply to new HGV Safety Permits issued with a Progressive Safe System condition from 24 June 2024, and to all new HGV Safety Permits from 28 October 2024.
Notes:
A. An HGV Safety Permit is required before an HGV in excess of 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) ("the Vehicle") is operated (used/driven or caused/permitted to be driven) on any public road in Greater London. This is any highway or length of highway maintainable at public expense in Greater London; referred to as the "restricted roads" in the Traffic Order.
B. From 00:00:01 hours on 28 October 2024 the minimum DVS star rating increases from one star to three stars. The HGV Safety Permit of any Vehicle not meeting the three-star minimum DVS requirement will be granted subject to the Progressive Safe System Conditions set out in Condition 10 below.
C. In these Conditions, unless stated otherwise, the word "applicant" shall be taken to mean both (1) the applicant for the HGV Safety Permit and, if different from the applicant, (2) the person to whom the HGV Safety Permit is granted or driver of the Vehicle in respect of which an HGV Safety Permit is granted.
D. An HGV Safety Permit is valid under the Traffic Order for all public roads in Greater London for the duration of the Permit.
E. Failure to comply with these Conditions may result in the revocation or suspension of the HGV Safety Permit. Suspension may be immediate if it is considered in the interests of public safety. It is a contravention of the Traffic Order to operate the Vehicle on any public road in Greater London while its HGV Safety Permit is suspended.
F. It is a contravention of the Traffic Order to either (1) fail to obtain an HGV Safety Permit for a Vehicle prior to operating on any public road in Greater London, including when the Permit has been suspended or revoked, or (2) operate the Vehicle in contravention of these Conditions (including the Progressive Safe System Conditions where they apply). A Penalty Charge Notice may be issued to operators or parties/persons liable for £550 (reduced by half if paid within 14 days).
General Conditions applying to all HGV Safety Permits
1. The applicant shall operate the Vehicle for which the HGV Safety Permit is issued in compliance with the requirements/measures set out in these Conditions.
2. The applicant and the driver of the Vehicle shall co-operate in assisting any authorised officer of London Councils and/or of Transport for London in the reasonable exercise of their duties in checking whether the Vehicle has been modified and/or is being operated in accordance with the Conditions.
3. An applicant shall bring to the attention of the driver of the Vehicle all Conditions subject to which this HGV Safety Permit has been issued. However, this does not remove the applicant's responsibility for compliance with these Conditions.
4. The HGV Safety Permit is granted to the applicant for the specified Vehicle and is not transferable to another vehicle or vehicle registration mark and may not be transferred to another operator, individual or sole trader. The HGV Safety Permit will automatically cease to be valid if the vehicle ceases to be under the ownership or control (as applicable) of the applicant. It shall then be the duty of the applicant to inform Transport for London of this immediately in writing, using the contact details on the TfL website.
5. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform Transport for London of any changes to their contact details.
6. The duration of an HGV Safety Permit will depend on whether the vehicle met the minimum DVS requirement or if it was granted subject to the Progressive Safe System Conditions:
Permits of Vehicles subject to the Progressive Safe System Conditions rated Zero to Two Star will expire at midnight 28 October 2030; and
Permits of Vehicles rated Three to Five Star will expire at midnight 28 October 2030, or ten years after the application approval date if granted earlier than 28 October 2024.
7. No Vehicle may be operated on any public road in Greater London during any time while its HGV Safety Permit is suspended or revoked.
8. A Vehicle for which a permit application has been made may not be operated on any public road in Greater London until the HGV Safety Permit has been approved and issued.
9. The applicant shall ensure that all modifications, and any existing features fitted to the Vehicle to reduce its environmental impact and/or increase its potential safety as regards other road users, including those required by Condition 10 below are:
maintained and kept in proper working order at all times; and
operated properly and appropriately in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
Progressive Safe System Conditions where a Vehicle does not meet the minimum DVS three star rating
10. The applicant shall carry out and complete modifications to the Vehicle so as to comply with the measures set out in Schedule 1 below (Progressive Safe System Measures) within the period specified subject to any further conditions, restrictions or limitations or exemptions indicated. Transport for London has published DVS guidance for operators, technical specifications and other information on its website to assist applicants in meeting this requirement.
These permit conditions apply to all HGVs over 12 tonnes, including left-hand drive vehicles. For these vehicles, mirrors, cameras and sensors must be fitted appropriately to account for the blind spot on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
Schedule 1: Progressive Safe System Measures
The following measures shall be fitted from 28 October 2024 unless an exemption (whole or partial) is indicated, and in accordance with the DVS guidance for operators, technical specifications and information available on the TfL website.
1. A Camera Monitoring System (CMS) must be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle, to eliminate the remaining blind spot at the nearside. A CMS can also be used as an alternative to fitting Class V and VI mirrors.
2. Class V and VI mirrors, or a CMS that replaces the mirrors, or a combination of both must be fitted to the front and nearside of the vehicle.
3. A Blind Spot Information System must ensure full coverage down the nearside of the vehicle to detect vulnerable road users.
4. A Moving Off Information System must be fitted to the front of a vehicle to warn the driver of the presence of a vulnerable road user and prevent collisions at the front blind spot zone when a vehicle moves off from rest.
5. Side under-run protection must be fitted to both sides of the vehicle (except where this would not be practicable).
6. Audible warnings must be fitted to provide an adequate warning to vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left, or right for left-hand drive vehicles. This makes sure that all vehicles can warn of an intended manoeuvre.
7. External warning signage must be displayed on vehicles to provide clear visual warning of the hazards around the vehicle. The DVS guidance for operators sets out that this must be clearly legible.
Some vehicle types are fully exempt from the HGV safety permit scheme and are not required to hold a permit (see Table 1).
Other vehicle types are only partially exempt from specific elements of the scheme. These vehicles must still hold a valid permit but they are exempt from the listed Progressive Safe System equipment only (see Table 2).
Table 1: Vehicle categories fully exempt from the HGV Safety Permit Scheme
Vehicle type |
Scheme exemption |
| Emergency service vehicles, including ambulances and fire engines which have a taxation class of 'ambulance' or 'fire engine' on the date of travel | Exempt for specified vehicles It is not considered appropriate to require emergency service vehicles to meet the DVS star rating threshold or to comply with the Progressive Safe System conditions as these vehicles need to be suitable for the operations for which they are designed |
| Council-operated gritting and snow plough vehicles | Fully exempt These are specialist, very low-mileage vehicles that are only utilised in certain weather conditions |
| Armed Forces vehicles | Fully exempt It is not considered appropriate to require Armed Forces trucks to meet the DVS star rating threshold or to comply with the Progressive Safe System conditions as they need to be suitable for the operations for which they are designed |
| Ministry of Defence vehicles/ military vehicles |
Fully exempt for specified vehicles It is not considered appropriate to require military trucks to meet the DVS star rating threshold or to comply with the Progressive Safe System conditions as these vehicles need to be suitable for the operations for which they are designed |
| Breakdown organisations/recovery vehicles | Fully exempt for specified vehicles Exempt for vehicles called out by the emergency services whose load is required for the purposes of dealing with any actual or perceived emergency affecting the safety of persons or property |
| Historic vehicles | Fully exempt All vehicles that have a 'historic' vehicle tax class will be exempt from the DVS. This tax class excludes any vehicle used commercially. It would be inappropriate to require historic vehicles to comply with the Progressive Safe System permit conditions |
| Showman's vehicle | Fully exempt Showman's vehicles are eligible for an exemption from DVS, but must register the vehicle with TfL. The registration must be made by a person following the business of a travelling showman and the vehicle must have been modified or specially constructed for this purpose. It would be inappropriate to require showman's vehicles to comply with the Progressive Safe System permit conditions |
| A vehicle to which no bodywork has been fitted and which is being driven or towed | Fully exempt A. For the purpose of a quality or safety check by its manufacturer or a dealer in, or distributor of, such vehicles B. To a place where, by previous arrangement, bodywork is to be fitted or work preparatory to the fitting of bodywork is to be carried out C. By previous arrangement to premises of a dealer or distributor |
| Mobile cranes | Fully exempt These are specialist, low-mileage vehicles requiring special permission to operate in London |
| A vehicle being driven/towed to a place where, by previous arrangement, Progressive Safe System equipment is to be fitted |
Fully exempt |
Table 2: HGVs partially exempt from specified PSS requirements
Vehicle type |
Scheme exemption |
|
| Exemptions from PSS requirement for lateral under-run protection | ||
| Road sweepers | Exempt | |
| Gully emptiers/ suckers | Exempt | |
| Breakdown organisations/recovery vehicles (where not fully exempt) - see condition | Exempt where applicable Only exempt where the sides of the vehicle are so designed and/or equipped that by their shape and characteristics their component parts together meet the requirements for the fitting of side under-run protection or other sideguards |
|
| Tractors for articulated vehicles | Exempt All trailers used with the exempt tractor unit will be required to fit side under-run protection (unless covered by an additional exemption) |
|
| Vehicles mounted with cranes and/or access working platforms | Exempt where applicable A. From the forward point of the vehicle stabiliser legs B. Otherwise, where it is not fully practicable to comply with requirements for the fitting of side under-run protection |
|
| Vehicles fitted with items in the area where a sideguard would otherwise be required to be fitted, such as fuel tanks and equipment boxes | Exempt where applicable Only where the shape and characteristics of such items or components would provide side under-run protection equal to that of a sideguard, on the condition that the spaces between component items providing side under-run protection do not exceed 300mm |
|
| Tank-vehicles (that is, a vehicle designed solely for the carriage of fluid substances in a closed tank permanently fitted to the vehicle and provided with hose or pipe connections for loading or unloading) | Exempt If it is not possible for practical reasons to comply with requirements as to the fitting of side under-run protection because to do so would prevent (not merely hinder) the operation of the vehicle's hose or pipe connections |
|
| Vehicle transporters (that is, a vehicle specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, to carry other vehicles loaded on to it from the front or the rear) | Exempt where applicable If the chassis rails are located on the extremities of the vehicle |
|
| Vehicles equipped with anchorage points for roll-on/roll-off transport | Exempt where applicable To the extent that there are gaps within the side under-run protection to accept the passage and tensioning of fixings or lashings |
|
| Exemption from PSS requirement for Class V and VI mirrors | ||
| Bonneted vehicles such as Unimog | Exempt From Class VI mirrors only |
|
| Vehicles fitted with any combination of direct view and/or indirect vision devices as an alternative to fitting a Class V or Class VI mirror | Exempt where applicable As permitted by UNECE Regulation 46 |
|
| Exemption from PSS requirement for warning signage | ||
| Tractors for articulated vehicles | Exempt All trailers used with the tractor unit will be required to fit warning signage |
|
| Exemption from PSS requirement for camera monitoring system | ||
| Vehicles installed with BSIS and MOIS systems at the point of manufacture, as part of type approval with UNECE Regulation 151 and 159 | Exempt where applicable Where the vehicle complies with UNECE Regulation 151 and 159, in that they have BSIS and MOIS fitted at the point of manufacture; not as part of an aftermarket system |
|
HGV Safety Permit conditions for the Direct Vision Standard (Safe System - conditions effective until 27 October 2024)
Greater London (Restriction of Goods Vehicles) Traffic Order 1985 - London Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Safety Permit Scheme
Conditions Attached to a HGV Safety Permit
The following conditions were approved on 21 March 2019 by London Councils Transport & Environment Committee to apply to all HGV Safety Permits granted under the London HGV Safety Permit Scheme provisions of the Greater London (Restriction of Goods Vehicles) Traffic Order 1985 ("Traffic Order", as amended).
Notes:
A. An HGV Safety Permit is required before an HGV in excess of 12 tonnes Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) ("the Vehicle") is operated (used/driven or caused/permitted to be driven) on any public road in Greater London. This is any highway or length of highway maintainable at public expense in Greater London; referred to as the "restricted roads" in the Traffic Order.
B. The HGV Safety Permit of any Vehicle not meeting the "minimum Direct Vision Standard (DVS) requirement" star rating (One Star or un-rated until 27 October 2024 and Three Stars after that date) will be granted subject to the Safe System Conditions set out in Condition 10 below. (The measures included in the Safe System and the exemptions from those measures will be reviewed in 2022; any new measures to be included in the System will be confirmed prior to 28 October 2024.)
C. In these Conditions, unless stated otherwise, the word "applicant" shall be taken to mean both (1) the applicant for the HGV Safety Permit and, if different from the applicant, (2) the person to whom the HGV Safety Permit is granted or driver of the Vehicle in respect of which a HGV Safety Permit is granted.
D. An HGV Safety Permit is valid under the Traffic Order for all public roads in Greater London for the duration of the Permit.
E. Failure to comply with these Conditions may result in the revocation or suspension of the HGV Safety Permit. Suspension may be immediate if it is considered in the interests of public safety. It is a contravention of the Traffic Order to operate the Vehicle on any public road in Greater London while its HGV Safety Permit is suspended.
F. It is a contravention of the Traffic Order to either (1) fail to obtain a HGV Safety Permit for a Vehicle prior to operating on any public road in Greater London, including when the Permit has been suspended or revoked, or (2) operate the Vehicle in contravention of these Conditions (including the Safe System Conditions where they apply). A Penalty Charge Notice may be issued to operators or parties/persons liable for £550 (reduced by half if paid within 14 days)
General Conditions applying to all HGV Safety Permits
1. The applicant shall operate the vehicle for which the HGV Safety Permit is issued in compliance with the requirements/measures set out in these Conditions.
2. The applicant and the driver of the Vehicle shall co-operate in assisting any authorised officer of London Councils and/ or of Transport for London in the reasonable exercise of his/her duties in checking whether the vehicle has been modified and/or is being operated in accordance with the Conditions.
3. An applicant shall bring to the attention of the driver of the Vehicle all Conditions subject to which this HGV Safety Permit has been issued. However, this does not remove the applicant's responsibility for compliance with these Conditions.
4. The HGV Safety Permit is granted to the applicant for the specified vehicle and is not transferable to another vehicle or vehicle registration mark, and where granted to an individual or sole trader, may not be transferred to another Operator. The permit will automatically cease to be valid if the vehicle ceases to be under the ownership or control (as applicable) of the applicant and it shall then be the duty of the applicant to inform Transport for London of this immediately in writing via tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/dvs-contact-us
5. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform Transport for London of any changes to their contact details.
6. The duration of a HGV Safety Permit will depend on whether the vehicle met the minimum DVS requirement or if it was granted subject to the Safe System Conditions
- The Permits subject to the Safe System Conditions will expire at midnight 25 October 2024;
- The Permits of Vehicles rated One or Two Star will expire at midnight 25 October 2024; and
- The Permits of Vehicles rated Three, Four or Five Star will expire at midnight 25 October 2030 or ten years after the application date if granted later than 26 October 2020 (whichever is the later).
7. No vehicle may be operated on any public road in Greater London during any time while its HGV Safety Permit is suspended or revoked.
8. A vehicle for which a permit application has been made may not be operated on any public road in Greater London until the HGV Safety Permit has been approved and issued.
9. The applicant shall ensure that all modifications, and any existing features fitted to the Vehicle to reduce its environmental impact and/ or increase its potential safety as regards other road users, including those required by Condition 10 below are:
- maintained and kept in proper working order at all times; and
- operated properly and appropriately in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
Safe System Conditions where a vehicle does not meet the minimum DVS star rating
10. The applicant shall carry out and complete modifications to the Vehicle so as to comply with the measures set out in the Schedule (Safe System Measures) within the period specified subject to any further conditions, restrictions or limitations or exemptions indicated.
Safe System Measures
The following measures shall be fitted from 26 October 2020 unless an exemption is indicated:
1. A Class V mirror shall be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle
2. A Class VI mirror shall be fitted to the front of the vehicle
3. Side under-run protection shall be fitted to both sides of the vehicle (except where this is impractical or proves to be impossible)
4. External pictorial stickers and markings shall be displayed on vehicles to warn vulnerable road users of the hazards around the vehicle
5. A sensor system that alerts the driver to the presence of a vulnerable road user shall be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle
6. An audible vehicle manoeuvring warning shall be fitted to warn vulnerable road users when a vehicle is turning left
7. A fully operational camera monitoring system shall be fitted to the nearside of the vehicle
For left-hand drive vehicles, mirrors, cameras and sensors must be fitted appropriately to account for the blind spot on the right-hand side of the vehicle.