What Safe System Methods Are Needed By the DVS For Vehicles? | FLEET-EYE

 If your vehicle does not meet this minimum star rating, you must either replace it with a compliant vehicle or retrofit it with safety measures known as "Vehicle Safety Systems" improvements. Knowing what these Safe System features are is critical because you could face a £550 fine if you are found to be non-compliant.

This blog explains what the Safe System is, why it exists, and how you can ensure your vehicle is up to standard.

What Exactly is the Safe System?

The Safe System is a set of measures implemented under the DVS EQUIPMENT that aim to reduce the risks that HGVs may pose to pedestrians and cyclists in the Greater London area.

The Safe System will be reviewed for the first time in 2024, when the minimum star rating for HGVs will be raised to three stars. This is known as the Progressive Vehicle Safety Systems, and it is important to remember when determining what equipment is needed to bring your vehicles up to standard.

However, for the time being, Safe System measures are only to be implemented on vehicles and must achieve the following:

• Improve your indirect vision.

• Inform drivers of planned maneuvers.

• Reduce a hazard's physical impact.

We'll now go over each of these requirements in depth, including what equipment is required to achieve these goals.

Enhance Direct Vision

If your vehicle receives a star rating of zero, it means that the risk of close-proximity collisions remains, and therefore precautions must be taken.

To be compliant, your vehicle must have all front and side blind spots removed or minimized as much as possible. The Safe System equipment required for this is as follows:

A Fully Functional Camera Surveillance System

No heavy vehicles are exempt from this requirement, which aims to eliminate or reduce blind spots as much as possible. Monitors in your vehicle's cab should ideally be placed near the window edge or near the mirror, without blocking the view through the window. The camera should be installed in left-hand drive vehicles to account for the blind spot on the right side. This reduces the time required for the driver to move their eyes to scan the monitor.

Mirrors in Classes V and VI

To improve driver visibility, both Class V and VI mirrors should be installed on the vehicle, with Class V mirrors on the nearside and Class VI mirrors on the front. Again, mirrors for left-hand drive vehicles should account for blind spots on the right side.

A Sensor System with Driver Alerts

Sensors are necessary for alerting drivers to the presence of pedestrians or cyclists, and they should be installed on the vehicle's nearside (again accounting for right-hand side blind spots). Sensors should be fully operational, which means they should provide 6 meter coverage down the nearside of the vehicle or 1 meter coverage from the rear, whichever is greater. Sensors should not be activated when passing by stationary vehicles, traffic lights, bus stops, and other similar structures.

It is recommended that drivers check and assess their indirect vision systems on a regular basis to ensure that they are always fully operational. If you have problems with your equipment, it should be replaced.

Inform Drivers of the Planned Maneuver.

In addition to eliminating or reducing blind spots, businesses must ensure that their vehicles have the audible means and necessary signage to warn other road users that a maneuver is being performed. This requirement applies to all vehicles, including:

Warning for Vehicle Maneuvering

These audible warnings should be installed on vehicles to warn pedestrians and cyclists that a vehicle is turning left, and vice versa for vehicles with left-hand drive. It is recommended that these audible warnings range between 65 and 88 decibels when measured one meter away from the sounding device, and that the noise be a combination of white noise and a verbal warning.

Signage of Caution

Visual warnings, such as stickers and markings that are clearly visible to other road users, should also be installed around the outside of the vehicle. These visual warnings should be as simple as possible, with messages like "Blind Spot: Take Care," and should not be offensive or give other road users advice.

These precautions must be taken so that other road users are aware when a vehicle is turning or maneuvering. This will help to avoid collisions when pedestrians or cyclists do not hear a moving vehicle. Both audible and visual warnings throughout your vehicle should be checked on a regular basis, just like the measures taken to improve direct vision.

Reduce a Hazard's Physical Impact.

Finally, the DVS EQUIPMENT requires that all vehicles be equipped with Vehicle Safety Systems measures to reduce the risk of under-run collisions with other road users. Road sweepers and gully emptiers/suckers are full exemptions from this equipment.

Vehicles must be equipped with appropriate side under-run protection to reduce the risk. This necessitates the installation of side guards on both sides of the vehicle, unless this is impossible due to the nature of the vehicle. These side guards should also have appropriate visual warnings to alert users to the movement of the vehicle.

Ensuring Direct Vision Standard Compliance (DVS)

To comply with the DVS EQUIPMENT, you must obtain a minimum star rating of one, which means that if your vehicle receives a 0 star rating, each Vehicle Safety Systems measure we've described must be installed on your vehicle (s).

It is up to you how you implement these measures; however, we understand that deciding between retrofitting your old vehicles and simply purchasing new ones can be difficult. Not only that, but determining which Vehicle Safety Systems measures to implement is only the beginning.