The Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit Guide
Added: 01 October 2020
Purchasing a truck is complex, so now that the Direct Vision Standard has got into gear, what does this mean for the South West haulier and business operator?
Even if you don't operate in the Greater London Boundary, what are your plans for the future? With a mixed landscape you'd be forgiven if you needed to remind yourself of what exactly constitutes a 5 star rating and how you can upgrade. We've got all the answers with Mercedes-Benz.
What is the Direct Vision Standard and HGV Safety Permit?
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and safety permit for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) requires all HGVs over 12t to be granted a permit to enter or operate in Greater London. The scheme was created by Transport for London (TFL) to improve the safety of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. It will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will be enforced on all roads within the Greater London Boundary. The scheme comes into force on 26 October 2020.
The DVS uses a star system to rate the vision from HGVs from zero star (lowest) to 5 star (highest) based only on how much a driver can see directly through their cab windows.
How to check the star rating of your vehicle.
Permits for 3, 4 and 5 star rated vehicles will be issued for a period of 10 years. Permits for 1 and 2 star rated vehicles will be issued to expire on 26 October 2024
Vehicles with a zero star rating can get a permit if fitted with Safe System equipment. Evidence of fitment will be required and a permit will be issued to expire on 26 October 2024.
To check the rating of a new Mercedes-Benz Truck you may be considering purchasing, please speak to our Truck Sales Team and contact us on 0117 938 7770 or send an enquiry form.
In order to facilitate the issuing of a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) HGV Safety Permit, we have provided TfL with the ratings of all the UK sourced and registered (qualifying) Mercedes-Benz trucks.
Permits will be automatically issued through the TfL website, which can be accessed here: Apply For A Permit
In the rare event that the UK sourced and registered (qualifying) Mercedes-Benz truck is not available on the TfL database (this could be that the registration data has not been passed to TfL by the DVSA) we are able to issue you a Direct Vision Certificate (to support your manual application) by using our online Direct Vision Certificate Generator: click here
If you are unable to obtain a certificate for any reason, for example the vehicle has been sourced from outside the UK, or the vehicle has been modified and you wish to check the Direct Vision rating, or if there is anything else we can do to assist you please contact us on 0117 938 7770.
Other Information from City West and useful articles on the Direct Vision Standard
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