DVS grace period set to be extended to 6 months after RHA campaign

The RHA is pleased to announce that hauliers are set to get more time to prepare for new Direct Vision Standard safety criteria launching later this year. Officials are set to extend a grace period to six months for hauliers operating in the capital to comply with new Progressive Safe System (PSS) launched on 28 October 2024. Transport for London (TfL) says If you wish to apply for the grace period you will need to provide evidence that you have installation works arranged to fit the PSS but that this is scheduled for after 28 October 2024.

This follows intensive RHA campaigning to ensure hauliers have clarity and more time to get their fleets ready for the changes. We are awaiting confirmation from TfL on these details. Enforcement would begin from 4 May 2025 - an extension of the original three months.

Richard Smith, RHA Managing Director, said: "We have collaborated extensively with the industry to better understand its challenges to be able to comply to a new standard with short timescales. Our most recent survey revealed that 57 percent of respondents said they weren't confident of being able to install compliant equipment in time.

"Now we've secured much-needed clarifications and a grace period extension the industry can now move forward to invest. Meanwhile, we are also clear that road safety is everybody's responsibility where all road users play their full part. We will continue to ensure that policymakers recognise and apply this important point."

Nearly 700 operators responded to the survey. To help the sector better understand what they need to do to comply, we have recently published a DVS Explainer document produced by the new standard's authors Loughborough University: https://bit.ly/DVSExp. We are also hosting an event at our Worldwide House HQ this Monday 22 July with Loughborough where operators can find out more first-hand about what kit should and shouldn't do.

More than 150 guests have signed up and we have closed registrations for our morning session. There are still spaces at our afternoon session. More information here: https://bit.ly/dvswwhpm.

More information on Direct Vision Standard on the TfL website here: https://bit.ly/3YaThYP