Construction specification HGVs such as tippers and cement mixers are to be banned from London within four years, under dramatic new proposals from the capital’s mayor.
Sadiq Khan has continued predecessor Boris Johnson’s crackdown on HGVs operating in London with the unveiling of a Direct Vision Standard.
In what is described as world first, the Direct Vision Standard will use a star rating running from 0 to 5 stars to rate construction and other HGVs. This will be based on the level of vision the driver has directly from the cab.
Under the plans to be consulted on shortly, the most dangerous ‘off-road’ HGVs will be banned from London’s streets entirely by January 2020.
The mayor’s office said these HGVs would be zero star rated under the standard. The RHA has suggested this will affect around 35,000 trucks.
By 2024 only HGVs meeting three stars or above will be allowed on London’s roads.
Khan said: “I’m not prepared to stand by and let dangerous lorries continue to cause further heartbreak and tragedy on London’s roads.
“The evidence is clear – HGVs have been directly involved in over half of cycling fatalities over the last two years, and we must take bold action to make our roads safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.”
You can read the full story on the Direct Vision Standard and construction lorry ban on our sister site Freight in the City.
