Direct Vision Standard (DVS): What HGV Operators Need to Know
If your fleet operates in Greater London, DVS compliance is not optional. Every HGV over 12 tonnes must meet the Direct Vision Standard, and since October 2024 the bar has been raised for vehicles to reach a minimum 3 star rating. This page covers everything you need: how the DVS scheme works, what the Progressive Safe System requires, where enforcement applies, and how Parksafe Group gets your vehicles compliant.
What is the Direct Vision Standard?
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) is a safety scheme introduced by Transport for London (TfL) as part of the Mayor of London's Vision Zero initiative. Vision Zero has a single goal: eliminate all deaths and serious injuries on London's transport network by 2041.
DVS directly addresses one of the leading causes of serious collisions in London, the blind spots created by large HGVs. The scheme measures how much a driver can see directly through the cab windows of the area immediately surrounding their vehicle, particularly the zones where collisions with pedestrians and cyclists are most likely to occur.
Every HGV over 12 tonnes operating in Greater London must hold a valid DVS safety permit. Without one, operators face a penalty charge of up to £550 per vehicle.
The scheme launched in 2019. Since October 2024, it has entered its second phase, known as the Progressive Safe System (PSS). Compliance requirements are now significantly more demanding than they were under Phase 1.
DVS Star Ratings Explained
An HGV's DVS star rating is determined by the manufacturer. It is based entirely on how much the driver can see directly through the cab windows; no aftermarket equipment is taken into account.
Ratings run from 0 to 5 stars.
0 to 2 Stars
These vehicles have the most restricted direct vision. From 28 October 2024, all HGVs rated 0, 1 or 2 stars must have a fully fitted Progressive Safe System installed before a new DVS safety permit can be granted. Permits issued under the old Phase 1 Safe System expired at midnight on 27 October 2024.
3 Stars and Above
Vehicles rated 3 stars or higher meet the minimum direct vision threshold and can operate in London without fitting a PSS. They still require a valid DVS safety permit.
How to Check Your DVS Star Rating
Your star rating is assigned by the vehicle manufacturer and is not affected by any safety equipment you have fitted. You can check your rating directly on the TfL website using your vehicle's registration and VIN number, or submit your details to Parksafe Group and we will check it on your behalf.
The DVS Progressive Safe System: Requirements from October 2024
From 28 October 2024, any HGV rated 0, 1 or 2 stars must have a complete Progressive Safe System fitted to operate in Greater London. The PSS is not a single product; it is a defined set of safety measures, each with specific technical requirements set by TfL.
Here is what every PSS must include.
MOIS
The MOIS detects pedestrians and cyclists entering the blind spot directly in front of the vehicle when the vehicle is stationary with brakes applied.
If the driver begins to prepare the vehicle to move off with a vulnerable road user detected, the system must escalate from an information signal to an active collision warning.
The system must be capable of detecting VRUs without generating false alarms and must provide a clear visual signal to the driver at all times.
BSIS
The BSIS monitors the nearside of the vehicle and alerts the driver when a VRU is detected in the danger zone.
The system must be active at all speeds between 0 and 30 km/h and must respond to the presence of VRUs specifically, not passing cars or roadside furniture unless a collision is imminent.
The required detection range is 2 metres in height, 2.2 metres to the side and 9 metres to the rear. The system must operate independently of the vehicle's indicators.
CMS
A Camera Monitoring System must be fitted to completely eliminate the remaining nearside blind spot, regardless of whether mirrors are already fitted.
In-cab monitors must be positioned close to a window edge or existing mirror location to minimise the time the driver takes their eyes off the road. A mirror replacement camera system may be used as an alternative to Class V and VI mirrors.
Systems already installed for mirror replacement purposes do not require an additional CMS, provided the same safety outcome is achieved.
Audible Warning
Every PSS-compliant vehicle must be fitted with an audible warning device that alerts nearby pedestrians and cyclists when the vehicle is about to make a turning manoeuvre.
TfL recommends a system that combines spoken warnings with white noise. The device must require minimal driver intervention and must include a manual on/off switch for use between 23:30 and 07:00.
Left-hand drive vehicles must fit the warning on the right side to cover right turns.
Warning Signage
Warning signage must be displayed on the rear of the rigid vehicle and on any trailer unit in use. Signage must be fitted to the rigid or trailer, not the front tractor unit.
Where Does the DVS Apply? The London Enforcement Zone
The Direct Vision Standard applies across Greater London. If any part of your vehicle's route falls within the boundary, your HGV must hold a valid DVS safety permit.
The enforcement zone is not restricted to central London. It covers the full area within the Greater London boundary and applies to all vehicles over 12 tonnes; UK-registered and overseas operators are subject to the same rules. Driving into London from outside the UK does not exempt you from the scheme.
Checking Whether Your Routes Are Affected
TfL provides an online DVS zone checker where operators can enter a postcode or view the enforcement boundary directly. If your fleet delivers anywhere within Greater London, even occasionally, you need to confirm compliance before your vehicles enter the zone.
Parksafe Group's DVS Compliance Kits
Parksafe Group has been supplying and fitting DVS compliance systems since the scheme launched. Our AI-driven Progressive Safe System kits are built specifically to meet TfL's technical specifications for both MOIS and BSIS, verified independently by the Association of Vehicle Installers (AVI) and tested by Loughborough University.
We offer three kit configurations to cover every compliance scenario.
DVS Progressive Safe System Kit
The complete solution for HGVs rated 0, 1 or 2 stars with no existing DVS equipment. This kit includes everything required to meet the full PSS specification in a single package.
Kit includes: left side 1080p AI pedestrian detection camera, front 1080p AI pedestrian detection camera, quad FHD monitor (available in 7" or 10"), audible left turn alarm, internal audible pedestrian detection alarm, speed and indicator module, 4-minute timer delay switch and A3 blind spot stickers.
Available in UK and EU versions.
DVS Progressive Safe System Upgrade Kit
For vehicles already fitted with a Phase 1 DVS Safe System that met the original TfL approval standards. This upgrade kit supplies the additional components required to bring existing installations up to full PSS specification, avoiding the cost of a complete system replacement.
GSR2DVS Standard Kit
For vehicles already fitted with GSR2 equipment, including MOIS and BSIS. This kit provides the remaining components required to pass the new PSS requirements without duplicating technology already in place.
We also offer a DVS Progressive Safe System Kit with Quick Connection Loom and Canbus Module. The plug-and-play loom saves 90 to 120 minutes of installation time and significantly reduces the number of connections and crimping required; a practical choice for high-volume fleet fitments.
Beyond Compliance: DVS Integration with Parksafe On Demand
Meeting the DVS standard gets your vehicles permitted. Integrating your PSS kit with Parksafe On Demand gives your fleet management operation something more useful: visibility.
Parksafe On Demand is our connected fleet platform. When your DVS cameras and sensors are integrated with On Demand, your fleet managers gain access to live and recorded footage, remote incident review, driver behaviour data and fleet-wide monitoring from a single dashboard. The system that keeps your drivers and vulnerable road users safe on the road becomes the same system that keeps your fleet managers informed back at base.
For operators running multiple vehicles across London, that operational intelligence matters. Incident evidence is accessible remotely. Driver performance can be monitored across the fleet. And the data your PSS system captures does not sit dormant on an in-cab recorder; it works for your business.
This is the difference between a compliance kit and a fleet safety platform. Parksafe Group delivers both.
Why Choose Parksafe Group for DVS?
Parksafe Group has been at the forefront of vehicle safety technology for over 30 years. When TfL introduced the Progressive Safe System, we did not simply adapt existing products. We developed and tested our PSS solution to the full TfL technical specification, then went further.
VIDEO (Embed: Parksafe Group DVS Progressive Safe System Kit, Loughborough University testing footage)
Our PSS kits have been independently verified by the Association of Vehicle Installers (AVI), the recognised body for vehicle safety system certification in the UK. We then commissioned additional independent testing at Loughborough University, where our kit was assessed against the full MOIS and BSIS criteria using a Parksafe Group DAT LF 7.5T truck.
Detection zones were mapped around the vehicle. Vulnerable road users passed at multiple speeds and distances on the nearside. Calibrated, traceable measuring equipment was used throughout. The result: our PSS solution passed every test criterion. All sensors responded correctly when VRUs entered the coverage area. No failures, no gaps.
That testing is not a marketing exercise. It is documented evidence that our system performs as the standard demands; the kind of assurance your compliance team, fleet manager and insurer can rely on.
We are members of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and hold ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 accreditations.
When you fit a Parksafe Group PSS kit, we provide the endorsement statement required as part of your TfL permit application, confirming that the BSIS and MOIS systems are fully functional, installed in compliance with PSS technical specifications and in effective working order.
How to Get Your DVS Safety Permit
Once your PSS kit is fitted, you apply for your DVS safety permit directly through TfL's online portal. Parksafe Group does not submit permit applications on your behalf, but we provide everything you need to complete the process without complication.
The process in brief: confirm your DVS star rating, fit the Progressive Safe System if your rating is below 3 stars, then apply via the TfL DVS permit application portal. You will need to supply photographs showing the front and rear nearside of the vehicle with the number plate clearly visible, along with the endorsement statement for your BSIS and MOIS systems.
Permits issued under the new PSS requirements are valid until midnight on 28 October 2030.
For a complete step-by-step walkthrough of the application process, including exactly what photographs TfL require and how to structure your endorsement statement, visit our dedicated permit guide.