Thousands of HGV operators have been warned they face £550-a-day fines if they fail to take part in a London scheme to reduce road deaths.
Lorries are disproportionately involved in fatal collisions, including 63 per cent of cyclist deaths and 25 per cent of pedestrian road deaths between 2015 and 2017.
Operators have until October 26 to obtain a free “direct vision standard” permit for their lorry, which gives it a “star rating” based on its safety features and measures to reduce “blind spots”.
The scheme, for vehicles weighing 12 tonnes and above, opened for registrations last October and Transport for London today revealed that more than 8,000 safety permits have been issued — a fraction of the 250,000 HGVs that enter the capital each year.
The first cyclist killed in London this year, Joseph Gaffney, died in collision with a lorry on the A40 on January 3.
On Tuesday another lorry crash on the A40 claimed the life of a motorcyclist.
The star system rates HGVs from zero to five. They need to have a minimum one-star rating to operate in London.
Those with vehicles rated zero stars must fit new measures, such as cameras and sensors, before a permit will be issued. About 500 lorries have already been upgraded in this way.
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said the scheme “tackles the issue at its source” by encouraging a switch to safer vehicles.
He added: “The initial response from freight businesses has been encouraging. But we urge more HGV owners to sign up to the scheme ahead of enforcement beginning to help us to eradicate all deaths from our roads.”
Christina Calderato, head of transport strategy at TfL, said: “We would strongly advise all operators who haven’t yet applied to do so now.”
