Panel van exemption from Safer Lorry Scheme
12th October 2015
Vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians have now been banned in Greater London under Britain’s first Safer Lorry Scheme, but there is a partial exemption for panel vans.
Vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians have now been banned in Greater London under Britain’s first Safer Lorry Scheme, but there is a partial exemption for panel vans.
As of 1 October, HGVs must be fitted with sideguards to protect cyclists from being dragged under the wheels in the event of a collision, along with Class V and Class VI mirrors to give the driver a better view of cyclists and pedestrians.
However, Transport for London has confirmed that panel vans weighing over 3.5-tonnes are exempt from the requirement to fit mirrors, on the grounds that they would pose a safety threat to pedestrians and cyclists, as are a number of other vehicles including the Mercedes-Benz Chassis Cab Vario with two-wheel-drive.
The Mayor, Boris Johnson, also announced that the scheme would now go further. “We are ahead of any other part of the UK in closing the legal loopholes that allowed many HGVs to operate without basic safety equipment, and I am now proposing to require further modifications, including the retrofitting of bigger side windows to further reduce the driver blind spots,” he said.
Bigger side windows, in the lower panel of the cab door, give the driver a direct view of any cyclist who may be alongside them, and can be fitted to most lorries for around £1,000.
The Mayor will consult on the issue and on the best way to enforce the new windows – whether through the Safer Lorry Scheme, Low Emission Zone regulations or changes to the congestion charge in January – and a decision will be taken before the Mayoral election next May.
The Safer Lorry Scheme covers every road in Greater London, except motorways, and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It will be enforced by the police, DVSA and the Industrial HGV Taskforce. The maximum fine for each breach of the ban will be £1,000. Repeat offenders may also be referred to the relevant Traffic Commissioner.