Brigade Electronics has warned fleet managers of a ‘hidden deadline’ when applying for Transport for London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) permit.
As of October, goods vehicles over 12 tonnes now require a permit to drive into Greater London under DVS. This is based on a ‘star rating’ indicating how much a driver can see from the cab and has been developed to protect vulnerable road users.
It was recently announced that enforcement of the legislation will only be introduced from March 2021 because of the upheaval logistics firms and other HGV operators have faced due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But Brigade has warned that there is an unwritten deadline of 31 January 2021 because fleet operators must allow TFL 28 days to approve or reject applications.
Emily Hardy at Brigade Electronics, explained: “This deadline does not allow for time if your application is rejected, so applications must be sent out in good time to avoid liability headaches down the line.
“An additional factor is that some manufacturers are taking two weeks to respond to star rating enquiries, so fleet managers need to factor in an additional deadline date of January 2021.
“The consequences of failing to plan ahead are tangible. If you have not received confirmation of your permit by March 1 your vehicles will not be recognised by the Automatic Number Plate recognition cameras – and you will receive a penalty charge notice.”
