The very worst bit of my job is when the phone pings telling me that someone has been killed or seriously hurt on London’s roads. It happens a lot. Last year, 95 people were killed and over 3,700 seriously injured. Every one of these incidents inflicts pain, suffering, tragedy and loss on victims, family members, friends, colleagues and communities.
Heavy Goods Vehicles have been disproportionately involved in more fatal collisions with pedestrians and cyclists than other motor vehicles. When I started in this role 50% of cyclist fatalities and 25% of pedestrian fatalities involved collision with lorries.
To make our streets safer and to meet the Mayor’s Vision Zero aim to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads by 2041, Transport for London and London Councils launched the world’s first Direct Vision Standard (DVS) in 2019.
DVS involves measuring the amount of direct vision an HGV cab provides a driver and then ranks the trucks from 0* to 5* (5 being the most vision). In 2019, the 0* trucks needed to fit cameras and sensors to operate in London or face a £550 daily fine.
This has significantly improved lorry safety and saved lives. In 2023, there was a 62% reduction in the number of fatal collisions involving an HGV, compared to 2017-19, as well as reductions in serious injuries.
However, too many people continue to be injured.
So today, we launched the second phase of this scheme. We’re tightening the safety standards of the DVS, so HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes will need to hold at least a 3* rating, or fit a new safety system – with the latest technology – to operate in the capital.
These important changes will further enhance the safety standards of HGV’s, reducing the risk of serious collisions and fatalities and making our streets safer for everyone.
I would like to thank the team at TfL, the team at London councils, all the campaigners who have worked with us and the freight industry for their partnership in delivering this.
Transport for London, London Councils, Road Haulage Association (RHA), London Cycling Campaign, Living Streets, RoadPeace, F.M. CONWAY BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE LIMITED, Loughborough University,