After government figures showed that lorries on the UK’s roads have the highest number of road fatalities per passenger mile compared to other vehicles, there has been a call from fleet management experts Venison Automotive Solutions for a review of HGV safety measures by operators ahead of stricter Direct Vision (DVS) rules that come into force next year.
The company has said that HGV operators need to do everything they can to reduce the risk to road users by tightening current safety and compliance checks.
“Operators Who Implement Daily Checks Reduce Road Risks”
As part of London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Vision Zero initiative – which aims to eliminate all serious injuries and deaths caused by road collisions in London by 2041 – current DVS rules came into force in March of 2021, and they’re set to become stricter from October 2024.
The rules dictate that all new vehicles over 12 tonnes must have a three-star rating or be equipped with a range of safety systems. Speaking on the matter, Venison Automotive’s client management director, Simon Staton, said…
“TfL’s new HGV permit scheme, which focuses on maximising how much the driver can see directly through the vehicle’s cab windows of the area around the vehicle where collisions are most likely to take place, will go some way in reducing avoidable collisions.
Commercial fleet operators who communicate well with their drivers and implement daily checks to increase safety can go a long way to reducing their road risks.”
“A Company Must Be Able to Prove It’s Taken All Necessary Precautions”
Staton went on to say that all HGV drivers are legally responsible for the vehicles they drive and should carry out basic roadworthiness checks daily or at the start of each shift. He also stated that this should extend beyond the capital, with operators nationwide needing to focus more on daily safety requirements.
He continued, “The economy is placing significant pressure on fleet operators and drivers, but safety cannot afford to slip through the net, and every city in the UK needs to be safeguarded. In the event of an accident, a company must be able to prove that it has taken all necessary precautions to ensure that their vehicles remain in the safest possible condition.”
Working Hard to Make the UK’s Roads Safer
The fact that HGV drivers’ involvement in road collisions is higher than the average is an obvious cause for concern. As such, we’re behind all moves to achieve safer roads in the UK, and it’s why checks and compliance play a central role in all our training courses. The safety of all road users is of paramount importance and is reflected in everything we do.
At HGVC, we offer industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs via our network of more than 60 training centres across the UK. Staffed by some of the most experienced and skilled instructors in the country, we’re well-placed to help businesses of all sizes mitigate the impact of driver shortages. To learn more about us and how we work, please take a moment to browse our website. Alternatively, to speak to us about how we can help you, click on ‘contact us’ or give us a call on 0330 818 8888, where our experts are waiting to assist.
