28-12-06 Speed Limiter Legislation

From 1 January 2007 additional vehicles will now fall into scope under the speed limiter legislation introduced in January 2005. The changes affect all goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes maximum gross weight and all passenger vehicles with 8 or more passenger seats, irrespective of weight. The relevant date for fitting speed limiters varies depending on the gross design weight of the vehicle, engine type (such as Euro III), international or national usage and the date of first registration.

Specifically affected from January 2007 are goods vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than 8 seats, irrespective of weight, which were first registered between 1 October 2001 and 31 December 2004, have Euro III engines approved to Directive 88/77/EEC and are used on national operations in this country.

In addition, goods vehicles first registered between 1 October 2001 and 31 December 2004 with a maximum gross weight between 7.5 tonnes and 12 tonnes, will have to have their existing speed limitation devices recalibrated from 60mph to 56mph.

VOSA Scheme Manager for Speed Limiters, Chris Dormand said: “The change to legislation remains the same as when it was first published in 2004 and will come into effect from New Year’s Day 2007. I would strongly advise anyone who requires further information to consult the table on our website (Speed Limiters - New Regulations - Table of dates ), as it does an excellent job of simplifying what is quite a complicated piece of legislation.”

Using the Outside Lane of a Motorway

If a vehicle has, or is required to have, a speed limiter fitted and working, then it is not permitted to use the outside lane of a three or more lane motorway. If the vehicle is required to have a speed limiter fitted but it is not working, it will be illegal to use it on the public highway under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

SPEED LIMITER REQUIREMENTS

The new speed limiter regulations apply to,

• passenger vehicles over 8 seats but not over 7500 kg Design Gross Vehicle Weight (DGVW).

• goods vehicles over 3500 kg but not over 7500 kg DGVW

• these are applied as follows depending on vehicle age:

1) Vehicles first used prior to 1 October 2001 - No requirement

2) Vehicles first used on or after 1 October 2001 up to and including 31 December 2004 - For British domestic use only these will require a speed limiter set such that the vehicle speed cannot exceed,

• 100 kph (passenger vehicles) (62.14 mph) or

• 90 kph (goods vehicles) (56 mph)

to be fitted by 1 January 2007 if they have a Euro 3 engine with emissions approval under directive 88/77/EC.

All vehicles with Euro 2 engines are not subject to the requirements. In addition the following vehicle types do NOT need a speed limiter as they do not have engines approved under the relevant directive:

• Any petrol engine or petrol engine converted to run on LPG

• Citroen Relay 2.0 litre and 2.2 litre HDi engines

• Fiat Ducato with 2.0 engines (engine code RHV)

• Ford Transit (all)

• Iveco Cargo all, except vehicles with engine code F4AE---.

• Iveco Daily all, except vehicles with engine codes F1AE---, F1CE---, 8140.43B, 8140.43N and 8140.43S with PIC code ‘G.’ (The PIC code is found on the ID plate on the Shut panel for the bonnet identified by the 3^rd character.)

• LDV (all)

• Mitsubishi Canter with ‘R’ as the 12^th VIN character

• Nissan Interstar all except vehicles with engine codes ZD3-A202, G9U-A754, S9W-A702 & G9U-A724. All Primastar.

• Peugeot Boxer 2.0 litre and 2.2 litre HDi engines

• Renault Master all except vehicles with engine codes ZD3-A202, G9U-A754, S9W-A702 & G9U-A724. All Trafic

• Vauxhall/ Opel Movano with E,F,G,J,K,L,M,N,P,T or W as 7th VIN character

• Vauxhall/ Opel Vivaro (all)

• Volkswagen (all except 2.5lt/2.8lt 109bhp/158bhp engine codes AVR & AUH respectively.)

Other makes may similarly not be subject to the requirement for a speed limiter.

3) Vehicles first used on or after 1 January 2005: For British domestic use only these will require a speed limiter set such that the vehicle speed cannot exceed

• 100 kph (passenger vehicles) (62.14mph) or

• 90 kph (goods vehicles) (56 mph) by 1 January 2008.

If used internationally then speed limiters set to this speed were required from 1 January 2005. The exemption list of engine types above does not apply to these newer vehicles.

.− ENDS −

NOTES TO EDITOR:

The legislation that is bringing this into force is European Council Directive 2002/85/EC which amends Council Directive 92/6/EEC. It has been adopted into GB Construction and Use Regulations through Statutory Instrument 2004 N0 2102 which came into force on 1st January 2005.

VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It is responsible for:

•Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services

•Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme

•Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations

•Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements

•Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements

•Providing training and advice for commercial operators

•Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls

For media inquiries about VOSA, please contact: Henry Norman on 0117 954 3208 / henry.norman@vosa.gov.uk, or Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 / zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk.

Could you please send the published version of any articles about VOSA to press@vosa.gov.uk, VOSA, Berkeley House, Croydon Street, Bristol, BS5 0DA, or fax them to 0117 9543303. Many thanks.