As the transport industry gears up for the implementation of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) 2024, hauliers need to pay attention in order to ensure continued compliance and to protect their O licences. Due diligence is a must when it comes to operators understanding the standards that must be met in order to apply for the new Progressive Safety System (PSS) permit, and is absolutely crucial when evaluating the compliance status of their fleet. For hauliers operating in London, compliance with the DVS 2024 is not merely a matter of regulatory adherence but also a strategic imperative. Non-compliance could result in heavy penalties, operational disruptions, and reputational damage. 

The DVS 2024 legislation, scheduled for enforcement in London from October 2024, mandates that all HGVs over 12 tonnes must meet certain safety standards in order to obtain a valid Progressive Safety System (PSS) permit. The key areas where enhancements have been made are for the nearside detection and the addition of a Moving Off Information System. These changes are aimed primarily at improving road safety by reducing HGV blind spots, and timely action by operators is essential if they want to get their systems upgraded by the October deadline. In this way they can avoid a last minute workshop bottleneck, as was witnessed in 2020 when the original DVS legislation came into effect and workshops experienced unmanageable levels of demands and hundreds of vehicles missed the deadline. This time, the pressure on installation centres is 2 or 3 times higher and the implications of this potential crisis can’t be ignored.

In response to the impending new PSS regulations, many hauliers may be selecting (or already have installed) DVS kits readily available in the market. Nothing wrong with that, you might think. BUT according to DVS specialists that Convey have been speaking to, there have been differing interpretations of the requirements, and in some cases, these kits will not meet the standards of the new regulations, despite the manufacturer claiming they are compliant with the requirements of DVS 2024. This situation has arisen as Transport for London have allowed manufacturers to self-certify their systems as compliant, however, In preliminary testing, SMUK – the leading European installer of Brigade DVS equipment – found that many of the systems examined, failed to meet the specifications.

This is why we are now collaborating with SMUK and we strongly urge operators to do their own due diligence when making their purchasing decision on new DVS 2024 systems, as non-compliant equipment would jeopardise road safety, lead to immediate permit withdrawal and expose operators to unwelcome legal liabilities.

In order to try and bring these two key issues to the attention of hauliers operating in London, Convey is delighted to announce our next upcoming webinar – “DVS 2024: the Path to the Progressive Safety System” – hosted by Convey’s Commercial Director Karen Crispe and guest speaker and DVS expert Ed Barrie from SM UK. 

At the live online webinar on Tuesday 21st May, Ed will be explaining the implications of the new DVS 2024 legislation, so that you can get the clarity you need on the upcoming changes and how it will impact on your vehicles operating in London. He will also provide a list of questions operators should ask manufacturers before buying DVS 2024 kits. After attending the webinar you will be armed with everything you need to know about the equipment your fleet needs, as well as being more aware of how you can evaluate if the equipment you choose is fully compliant with the new regulations.

The webinar is free to attend and there will be a live Q and A after the session where all your concerns will be addressed and questions answered. Register today and find out everything you need to know about the upcoming DVS changes.

Register now