LONDON LORRY SAFETY CAMERA RULES START IN MARCH
From March, any 12-tonne lorry driving through London which does not have suitable safety cameras, blind spot mirrors and other haulage accessories could face fines of up to £550 per day.
The new Direct Vision Standard is set to come into force on 1st March, after having been delayed as a result of the current circumstances.
The Direct Vision Standard is a series of rules which are intended to help hauliers driving through Greater London see as much of their surroundings as possible to avoid road accidents.
Any 12-tonne lorry travelling through the capital will need to apply for an HGV safety permit, which will be graded on a star rating from zero to five stars.
From 1st March, vehicles will need at least one star, which will increase to a minimum of three stars by 2024.
For vehicles given zero stars, they will need to have at least the following to travel through Greater London:
- A Class V mirror on the nearside of the vehicle to remove blind spots.
- A Class VI mirror on the front of the vehicle.
- Side under-run protection on both sides to stop cyclists and pedestrians going under the tyres.
- Warning stickers and markings to ensure pedestrians and other drivers are warned of the dangers.
- A sensor system that warns the driver of a vulnerable pedestrian, cyclist or other drivers nearby.
- A warning system that loudly tells other road users when a vehicle is turning left.
- A fully operational camera monitoring system to remove any blind spots and give a driver a full view around the lorry.
A 90-day grace period is available for some companies who are struggling to meet the standard who apply ahead of the 1st March deadline.