HGV drivers have one week left to install key safety features and update their permits – failure to do so could result in fines of £550 for driving around London.

HGV operators will have to install a Progressive Safe System and obtain a safety permit before enforcement begins on Monday 5 May. In October, TfL granted a grace period for operators who needed more time to install the new safety measures required under the Direct Vision Standard, but this will elapse at 11.59pm on Sunday 4 May, after which drivers without valid permits could face the substantial fines.

Drivers need to obtain a safety permit and install the Progressive Safe System for zero, one and two star-rated HGVs. The Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit Scheme are part of the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero plan to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London’s transport network by 2041.

The DVS measures how much an HGV driver can see directly through their cab windows. This is then expressed as a star rating from zero (limited) to five (good). The star rating is fixed and dependent on the vehicle design, as it indicates the level of risk to road users such as people walking and cycling.

Whether or not the operator considers the vehicle to meet the standards, all lorries over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) entering or operating in Greater London need to hold a valid HGV safety permit before using the area to avoid receiving a PCN.

It is no longer possible to receive an HGV safety permit under the previous Safe System conditions, which lapsed on 27 October 2024 at 23:59. You will need to apply for a permit with Progressive Safe System conditions, for all HGVs regardless of the star rating.


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