Speed Limiter Legislation

On 1st January 2007 Euro 3 vehicles first registered between 1st October 2001 & 1st January 2005 came within the scope of the European 2002/85/EC Road Speed Limiter (RSL) directive for the first time.

Trucks & vans over 3,500kg GVW registered between those dates, which were previously exempt from RSL legislation if used solely within UK national borders, were now required to have their RSL set at 90km/h 56mph. Additionally once the RSL had been reset to comply with the directive the vehicle was banned from using the outside lane of a motorway.

The new legislation supplements existing RSL legislation for vehicles with Euro 3 engines on international & national journeys. These have had the requirement to have their RSL set at 90km/h 56mph since 1st January 2006.

Derogation within the European 2002/85/EC Road Speed Limiter directive allows new vehicles first registered after 1st January 2005 to delay implementation until 1st January 2008.

Potential operator impact

Engine power outputs have steadily increased giving the ability to maintain a constant 70mph, and higher, on motorways for vehicles 3,500 – 7,500kg GVW. The restriction to 56mph lowers these high constant motorway speeds and some manufacturers project a fuel saving up to 35% by this action.

With restricted speeds vehicle manufacturers project an increase in mileage for brake and tyre life. Driver fatigue should also be reduced.

On the negative side there is an inevitable increase in journey times where applications involve a predominance of dual carriageway and motorway use. A number of common applications, such as trunking parcel carrier, will be compromised because of this. In the short – medium term customers can use vehicles first registered after 1st January 2005 which remain out-of-scope of the directive till 1st January 2008. Medium – long term operators may remove the effect by specifying vehicles that fall just under the 3,500kg GVW which do not fall within the scope of the directive.