The Transport for London scheme calls for most HGVs operating in the capital to be fitted with extra mirrors and sideguards – but FTA says operators may need external advice on the detail of the regulations to ensure they comply.
"Dimension and installation requirements are extremely complex, and operators who have to retrofit their trucks to comply with the scheme need to be confident that sideguards have been put on correctly," says Andy Mair, FTA's head of engineering.
"As these vehicles are exempt from existing construction regulations, they will not be checked as part of the annual testing examination and operators may only realise that they have incorrectly installed sideguards following enforcement action and fines under the new Safer Lorry Scheme."
The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will require all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with sideguards and kerb view and front mirrors.
The enforcement area is the entire London low emission zone and operators breaching the rules face £50 fixed penalties or £1,000 court fines.
It will be enforced by the police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the joint DfT/TfL-funded Industrial HGV Taskforce. Those in breach will be referred to traffic commissioners.
FTA's Vehicle Inspection Service offers compliance checks on the correct installation of sideguards and mirrors to the new requirements, which are carried out by qualified and experienced vehicle inspection engineers.
Compliance checks can be carried out on site at operators' premises by the FTA visiting inspection service.
Click the link below to see full details of TfL's Safer Lorry Scheme.