The Direct Vision Standard - making heavy trucks safe for people who walk and bicycle in London | vision-techniques.com

Headlines are quick hits from media outlets from Missouri and around the world. Follow the headline link for the full story. The source of this headline says:

The Direct Vision Standard is being implemented in response to the serious dangers that HGVs still pose to vulnerable road users – official statistics have shown that London’s heavy vehicles are involved in 63% of fatal collisions with cyclists, and 25% of fatal collisions with pedestrians. With the help of the Direct Vision Standard, authorities hope to reduce fatalities to zero by 2041. . . .

the Direct Vision Standard assesses and rates how much an HGV driver can see directly from their cab (i.e. without the use of cameras or other devices). It does this through what’s known as the Direct Vision star rating. According to this system, individual vehicles are awarded a star rating between 0 and 5, from lowest to highest.

Link: 

The Direct Vision Standard - making heavy trucks safe for people who walk and bicycle in London | vision-techniques.com

Truck Electrics adds:

A score of zero stars means the driver has poor direct vision. They will not be able to see the head or shoulders of a pedestrian who is 4.5 metres or less away from the cab. Anything within this 4.5 meter range is a blind spot for the driver.

A score of five stars represents the best level of visibility. Drivers in a five star Direct Vision Standard vehicle will have good direct vision and will be able to see a person, cyclist, or other motorist positioned directly adjacent to the cab.

See https://www.truckelectrics.com/blogs/news/what-is-direct-vision-standard...

Transport London has a video outlining the program and showing the vision improvements that higher visibility with higher star ratings have:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-P20wdrcAQ