Slapping a limit on heavy vehicles

SHAH ALAM: The days of heavy vehicles hurtling down roads at high speeds may soon be over, as the use of speed limiters will be enforced from October.

The limiters, which cap the maximum speed of heavy vehicles at 90kph, will be carried out in three phases.

The first phase in October will see all tourist buses, express buses and vehicles registered from Jan 1, 2015, undergoing speed limiter functionality checks before obtaining certification.

This includes the devices’ manu­facturer, technical service providers and service facility providers.

“The certification must be renewed every two years. Certification will be required when applying for or renewing permits with the Land Public Transport Agency.

“The documents must also be available at all times in case of enforcement checks,” Transport Minister Anthony Loke told a press conference yesterday.

Under the second phase, heavy commercial vehicles registered before Jan 1, 2015, must have speed limiters activated. Enforce­ment will begin on Jan 1 next year.

This applies for vehicles exceeding 3,500kg in weight and passenger vehicles ferrying more than eight passengers or exceeding 5,000kg in weight.

Rebuilt and second-hand impor­ted heavy vehicles are also subject to this enforcement phase.

For heavy vehicles without any speed limiters, they must be retrofitted before July 1 next year, according to Road Transport Department (JPJ) standards.

The minister said the full list of service providers and accredited bodies giving related services will be uploaded on the JPJ website soon.

“We are carrying out enforcement in phases, as all vehicles beyond 2015 must have speed limiters. The question is whether it has been activated.

“For vehicles without limiters, we understand that some time is needed, hence we gave a longer deadline,” he said.

On errant heavy vehicle operators who continue operations without using speed limiters, he said they would be charged in court.

“For example, if they operate without receiving approval from a vehicle inspection certificate, the whole operating licence can be revoked,” he added.

Earlier this week, Loke said the government was drafting a policy that includes the mandatory use of speed limiters for heavy vehicles.

This came after 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students died when their chartered bus overturned after colliding with an multi-purpose vehicle on the East-West Highway near Gerik on Monday.

The crash also left 33 others injured, including the bus driver, his assistant, and the driver and three passengers of the MPV.

On the crash between a gravel-­laden lorry and Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) truck in Perak last month, Loke said the lorry company owner will be brought to court.

“Their operating licence has also been revoked. The families of the FRU personnel can also file a civil case for compensation,” he said.

The crash claimed the lives of nine FRU personnel.