Transport for London has today confirmed that no charges will be payable or enforced for non-compliant vehicles under the new Direct Vision Standard and the new Low Emission Zone until at least the end of February 2021.
The Direct Vision strategy aims to make it more expensive for any operator to bring a HGV above the 12 tonnes weight into Greater London. A 12 tonner is a typical wagon used for all sorts of events and conferences, gigs, festivals and re-stocking smaller supermarkets. The end result of banning them in central London will be more smaller vans and drivers being utilised to shift the same goods, leading to an increase in wholesale prices of course.
Low Emission zone changes due in October were mainly aimed at removing older vans, pick-ups and commercial vehicles registered before 2006 from London streets, so the impact is obviously less as not many delivery operators are using vehicles this old in the South East in general.
BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “We are pleased to have received notice from Transport for London earlier today confirming a delay to the enforcement of new rules under London’s Direct Vision Standard and the new Low Emission Zone, which both come into force on 26 October.
“This will provide welcome relief to a freight industry that is focused on COVID-19 – keeping supply chains moving and surviving the economic impacts of the lockdown.
“The Mayor must continue to liaise with the sector and be ready to delay these schemes still further depending on how the sector and the wider economy are able to recover from the current crisis.”
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