TfL to enforce LEZ and DVS from March 2021

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Tuesday 13 October 2020

Transport for London’s (TfL) Direct Vision Standard (DVS), designed to reduce the impact of HGV blind spots on vulnerable road users, will be enforced in the capital from 1 March next year, City Hall has confirmed – while the planned tightening of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to Euro VI emission levels for both particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) will take place from the same date.

Both measures were postponed from earlier enforcement dates because of the Covid-19 crisis (Transport Operator 90).

City Hall simultaneously announced a new heavy vehicle scrappage scheme, offering small businesses and charities £15,000 to replace or retrofit some of the most polluting vehicles. The scheme has limited funding so will operate on a first-come, first-served basis; more than 100 organisations had already pre-registered interest.

Natalie Chapman, Logistics UK’s (formerly FTA) head of urban policy, said of the DVS and LEZ confirmation: “Logistics UK and its members fully support the Mayor of London’s ambition to improve road safety and reduce air pollution in the capital.

“However, we have raised concerns with TfL regarding the economic impacts these schemes would place on the industry. Therefore, given the immense financial and operational pressure the Covid-19 pandemic has placed on logistics businesses, we are disappointed to see the Mayor of London has not further delayed the introduction of both schemes.

“To meet the necessary requirements of the DVS scheme, a significant proportion of vehicles will need to have additional equipment fitted. However, there are no financial support packages to assist with DVS compliance which will make delivery of the Mayor’s Vision Zero strategy more costly during this difficult time.”

Chapman welcomed the scrappage scheme launch, however, which she said would help small businesses to upgrade their vehicles in order to comply with the tightening of the emissions standards for the LEZ.

Shirley Rodrigues, the deputy mayor for environment and energy, said: “The mayor is doing everything in his power to stop Londoners breathing air so filthy that it damages children’s lungs and causes thousands of premature deaths. The Ultra Low Emission Zone has already cut toxic air by more than a third, and with tighter Low Emission Zone standards due to come in next year, we want to ensure there is help for businesses and charities switching coaches or lorries to cleaner greener vehicles.”

The earlier decision to delay the enforcement of the Direct Vision Standard, which was originally due to begin this month, created an apparent anomaly because relevant legislation had already been introduced. While no fines are to be imposed by TfL on vehicles for not meeting DVS regulations until March, concerns have previously been raised that the scheme still technically takes legal effect on 26 October 2020.

It has been suggested that this could lead to issues, for example with insurers or police, if a noncompliant vehicle was involved in an accident (TO91).

When Transport Operator raised this point with Transport for London in June, a spokesperson told us: “The DVS will play a vital role in eliminating death and serious injuries from London’s streets, and as such, suspending or deferring the legal start date is not possible, as it would delay the introduction of the scheme.

“Not complying with the scheme wouldn’t automatically lead to liability in the event of a collision. Whether freight operators would be liable in civil or criminal proceeding would primarily depend on the circumstances. However, compliance with best practice safety standards would be relevant.”