Due to the surprising lack of national publicity regarding the TFL’s Safer Lorry Scheme, I thought I’d post this, in the hope that those operators who still don’t know about the initiative might now know. In a nutshell as of 1st September 2015 all HGVs (LGVs) driving in London will need to be:
- Fitted with Class V and Class VI mirrors giving the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around their vehicles
- Fitted with side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision
The Safer Lorry Scheme will be operating 24 7 across London covering the same area as the Low Low Emission Zone
This fantastic news for cycle safety and it’s a shame the Safer Lorry Scheme has taken so long to come into play. Anyhow now it’s here and lets hope there are no more fatalities on our capitals streets.
Enforcement for the Safer Lorry Scheme will be by the Met, City of London Police and the DVSA.
- Drivers found to be in charge of a non-compliant vehicle may be issued with a £50 Fixed Penalty Notice
- The offence also carries a potential fine of £1000 at Magistrate’s court
- The Traffic Commissioner, will also be notified of companies operating vehicles in breach of the scheme
For full information go to the TFL page here