DVS and Progressive Safe System installation
HGVs over 12 tonnes need a TfL Safety Permit to enter Greater London. If your vehicle is rated below three stars, it needs the Progressive Safe System first. We assess the vehicle, fit the full system and give you the evidence for your application.
Who needs it
Every HGV over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight that enters or operates in most of Greater London needs a valid HGV Safety Permit. A vehicle's Direct Vision Standard star rating measures how much the driver can see directly through the cab windows. Vehicles rated zero, one or two stars must have the Progressive Safe System fitted before a permit is granted.
Legacy permits for zero, one and two-star vehicles expired on 27 October 2024. If your vehicle had the older Safe System, it needs upgrading to the Progressive Safe System and a new permit.
What the Progressive Safe System includes
It is a defined set of equipment, not a generic camera package. The specification includes:
- A camera monitoring system covering the nearside blind spot
- Class V and Class VI mirrors, or an approved camera monitoring system where permitted
- A Blind Spot Information System (BSIS) covering the full nearside, designed to warn about cyclists and pedestrians without reacting to street furniture or parked vehicles
- A Moving Off Information System (MOIS) covering the front blind spot
- Side under-run protection where applicable
- An audible warning that alerts people outside when the vehicle turns left
- External warning signage
Equipment that looks similar can still fall short on coverage or warning behaviour. We specify and position each part for the vehicle in front of us, then test it before handover.
Evidence for your permit
TfL asks for photographic evidence of the installation. We photograph each fitted component and supply installation records for your permit application and vehicle file.
How FORS fits in
FORS is a voluntary accreditation, but many contracts require it. At FORS Silver, the vehicle safety equipment requirement can be met through several routes, including a Progressive Safe System fit. DVS, PSS and FORS overlap but are not interchangeable: a TfL permit does not prove every FORS requirement is met, and FORS does not replace the TfL permit. We can help you work out what equipment each vehicle needs.
We supply and install vehicle safety systems. TfL issues HGV Safety Permits and FORS manages FORS accreditation. Always check the latest official guidance for your own vehicles.
Read more
- DVS, Progressive Safe System and FORS explained
- Case study: a low-downtime DVS install for Secured Transport
Questions we get asked
What is the Progressive Safe System?
It is the set of safety equipment TfL requires on HGVs over 12 tonnes rated zero, one or two stars under the Direct Vision Standard. It includes a nearside camera monitoring system, BSIS, MOIS, a left-turn audible warning, signage and other measures.
Do you provide evidence for the TfL permit?
Yes. We photograph the installation and supply records for your permit application and vehicle file.
Is any side camera enough for DVS?
No. The nearside camera monitoring system, sensors and warnings all need to meet the specified coverage and behaviour. A generic side camera may not.
Do I need DVS if my vehicles rarely go into London?
If an HGV over 12 tonnes enters most of Greater London, even occasionally, it needs a permit. Many contracts and FORS audits also expect equivalent safety equipment.
DVS, Progressive Safe System & FORS near you
We fit at your depot across these areas and further afield.
Get a quote
Tell us about your vehicles and we'll come back to you with a price, usually the same working day.