From 28 October this year, HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes will be required to have a minimum three-star Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rating to enter Greater London.
Vehicles ranked at two or below on the DVS star rating scale will be required to fit additional safety measures known as the Progressive Safe System (PSS), with non-compliance leading to a potential penalty charge of up to £550 per operator and £150 for the driver, per vehicle per day.
Introduced to enhance safety standards, the newly approved PSS includes the latest advancements in motion sensor technology. This means that some operators may need to invest in upgrading their existing equipment – which will mean taking vehicles off the road, costing valuable time.
With the deadline less than six months away, Digraph has warned that those that leave it too late to do so may risk being caught short.
David Dimbleby, commercial director at Digraph, said: “With the new rules announced back in June 2023, HGV operators could be forgiven if the deadline for PSS compliance has snuck up on them. But those that fail to make the necessary changes in time face fines with no upper limit on the maximum charge.
“At the same time, operators that leave it too late risk losing business to competitors through unnecessary time spent off the road. That’s why we recommend that HGV operators stagger upgrades incrementally across their fleet to minimise downtime, and so that come October 28th, they will be able to maintain an uninterrupted, compliant service to customers.”
Digraph is also advising operators to work with experienced technicians in order to manage their upgrades efficiently and take advantages of quick fixes where possible. The business stocks a range of products from trusted suppliers in the market including Brigade, Guardian and Durite, offering Direct Vision Kit solutions which can be easily integrated into existing hardware and deliver huge savings when implemented across an entire fleet.
