Direct Vision: a global initiative to improve road safety
Tired of seeing headlines about pedestrian accidents involving trucks? You’re not alone. A global movement is sweeping across cities, from London to Boston and beyond, demanding safer roads in urban areas.
At the heart of this movement is a concern for “direct vision”, which refers to what a driver can see with his or her eyes from behind the wheel. Historically, that vision hasn’t always been great. Direct vision standards seek to change that, with a focus on the area in front of and to the sides of the cab, extending backwards through the blind spots on both the driver and passenger sides.
By mandating improved visibility for heavy goods vehicles, these standards are also a crucial step towards Vision Zero – a global initiative to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by the year 2050.
London was a pioneer in this area. In 2021 Transport for London (TfL) introduced the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for Greater London. As part of the city’s Vision Zero initiative, this groundbreaking scheme mandated minimum vision standards for HGVs in London.
Those that do not meet these direct vision standards are required to install approved systems to improve indirect vision, including enhanced mirrors, cameras, and sensors. Additionally, systems to alert vulnerable road users (VRUs) of potential hazards and technologies to mitigate the impact of accidents are mandatory.
Global movement towards Vision Zero
While London will be the first major city to implement such a scheme, other cities in Europe and the USA will soon follow. Direct vision is going global.
The EU is implementing the UNECE Direct Vision Standard, which will be adopted by 29 countries including all 27 member states. This means new trucks must comply from 2026, and all trucks by 2029. The standard aims to improve driver visibility, reducing accidents involving HGVs in urban areas.
Meanwhile Massachusetts is currently leading the charge in the US when it comes to studying direct vision. The state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has conducted a comprehensive Direct Vision fleet measurement study: their research and findings are expected to influence other states and cities.
While specific DVS regulations are not in place just yet, several other states and cities like New York, California, Chicago, LA, and Philadelphia are actively considering or discussing the implementation of direct vision standards.
Benefits of Direct Vision
Direct vision is not just about complying with regulations, however. It is a global initiative to increase road safety, and prioritize and protect vulnerable road users.
The benefits of improved direct vision are clear. Enhanced driver visibility reduces the likelihood of serious accidents, particularly in urban environments where pedestrians and cyclists are most vulnerable. Quite apart from the unquantifiable human costs, accidents of this type can be costly and damaging to any organization. In some cases, they can be enough to put a company out of business.
It is also worth remembering that in many cases ‘vulnerable road users’ are co-workers. In construction, for example, maneuvering in tight spaces, whilst surrounded by vulnerable workers is a common occurrence. Drivers and operators need all the help they can get.
4 simple steps to prepare your fleet for Direct Vision regulations
- Understand the requirements: Familiarize yourself with the specific Direct Vision Standards applicable in your region. With London’s DVS, for example, trucks are assessed from 1 star to 5 stars based on how much a driver can see directly from the cab. If a truck doesn’t meet the required star rating, operators must install safety equipment like sensors, cameras, and audible alarms to accommodate a lack of direct vision.
- Evaluate your fleet: Assess your current fleet’s compliance with these standards. Identify which vehicles need modifications or replacements to meet the required criteria.
- Invest in technology: If required, equip your trucks with the latest tech to enhance the driver’s direct vision and ensure your fleet is compliant. CameraMatics can help with this.
- Training and education: If you have installed new technology, ensure your drivers are trained to utilize these systems effectively. Proper training can maximize the benefits of these technologies, making roads safer for everyone.
Your vision, our solution: enhance your fleet’s visibility with CameraMatics
At CameraMatics, we’re ahead of the game. We can provide a fully compliant Direct Vision Standard safety system today. Short of changing an entire fleet, this is the simplest, fastest way to get ‘DVS’ compliant and continue to operate as usual. Our DVS compliant system includes:
- Detection of vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists) in specified areas to the front and sides of the vehicle
- In-cab audio and visual alerts to the driver when these road users are detected, and the vehicle is either moving or about to move off
- Accuracy. Our system does not trigger these alerts for non-vulnerable road users (cars, post-boxes, and so on), or when the vehicle is stationary and not preparing to move off
The system has already been installed, tested, and proven to meet DVS requirements, but don’t take our word for it: watch the video below.
Safer roads with less accidents, all over the world
By understanding Direct Vision, and taking proactive steps to implement it, fleet operators in cities all over the world can save lives, enhance their reputation, and contribute to a safer future for all road users.
CameraMatics is here to support you every step of the way. Schedule a consultation with our experts to discuss how we can help you achieve DVS compliance and contribute to Vision Zero.
