Comment from Logistics UK on DVS announcement from TFL
Tuesday 19 January 2021
Speaking about today’s (19 January 2021) news from Transport for London (TfL) on the start date for the Direct Vision Standard scheme, Natalie Chapman, Head of Policy – South at Logistics UK said:
“The safety of all London’s road users is of prime importance to Logistics UK and we welcome the flexibility and certainty that today's announcement provides. Our members have rolling programmes of safe system retrofit for their existing fleet as well as orders in place for new compliant vehicles, but these schedules are currently being disrupted due to ongoing challenges with the Covid pandemic.
“The creation of an “allow list” by the Mayor’s office and Transport for London (TfL) is welcome news for businesses as they adopt new vehicles or change the specification of their fleets. In addition, it is encouraging to see they have noted the need for improvements in the permit system to speed up processing of applications. Logistics UK will be working closely with TfL to clarify how the “allow list” will work in practice and what fleet operators need to implement, as well as pressing for quicker turnaround times of permit applications.
“After delivering for London throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, logistics businesses have proved their value to the capital’s businesses and residents. Improved road safety for all is the ultimate aim and one which the logistics sector is committed to achieving.”
Logistics UK (formerly FTA) is one of the UK’s leading business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With COVID-19, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, sea and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods.