Transport for London (TfL) recently announced that it is evaluating requiring heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to be equipped with additional cameras to eliminate blind spots, as well as audio warnings of the next driving behavior.

Transport for London's HGV Direct Vision Standard (DVS) safety license program, which is scheduled to debut in 2019, requires all HGV operators to apply for a free license to operate in London. Licenses are granted if the vehicle meets the minimum DVS star rating, which is based on the extent of the driver's field of vision that can be seen directly through the cab mirrors, glass, etc., in other words the fewer the blind spots, the higher the rating, which ranges from zero to five stars. Vehicles that do not meet the minimum requirements, currently one star, must be retrofitted with equipment to comply with the safety system. This is a range of vehicle safety measures, such as mirrors, sensors and cameras, designed to reduce the risks posed by HGVs to people walking and cycling. The data shows that fatal collisions involving HGVs, where blind spots are considered a significant factor, have reduced from 12 in 2018 (the year before the scheme was launched) to six in 2021. The total number of serious collisions involving HGVs has also reduced from 39 to 17 over the same period.

Based on the new policy considerations, the Progressive Safety System will update existing guidance on the use of rearview mirrors and mirror monitoring systems (CMS) and will require CMS to be fitted to vehicles to eliminate any remaining blind spots on the passenger side. The Progressive Safety System will include a Movement Monitoring System (MOIS) fitted to the front of the vehicle to prevent collisions in the frontal blind spot area when the vehicle is exiting from a standstill and audio warnings fitted to all vehicles, including those driving in left-hand drive, to ensure that all vehicles operating in London are able to warn of driving manoeuvres such as a right-hand turn.