97% of heavy vehicles fail speed limiter verification ahead of October deadline

PUTRAJAYA: Up to 97% of heavy commercial vehicles registered after Jan 1, 2015, have yet to obtain verification that their speed limitation devices are functional, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

Ahead of the first phase of enforcement set to begin on Oct 1 this year, Loke said only 2,915 (2.68%) out of the 108,805 vehicles registered after the said date had complied with this.

Loke said the total number of heavy commercial vehicles involved in the first phase of enforcement included 2,528 express buses, 6,241 tour buses, and 100,036 heavy commercial vehicles over 3,500kg in weight.

However, only 62 express buses, 33 tour buses, and 2,820 heavy commercial vehicles have confirmed having speed limiters.

“It seems as if industry players are not serious about this matter. However, we will not compromise on this, and will begin enforcement in October,” he told a press conference at the ministry’s headquarters on Wednesday (Sept 24).

Among the excuses received, he said, are that some associations claim a lack of inspection centres or a lack of time to do so.

“It has already been three months since the announcement. Some claim that there are long lines at the inspection centres, but this is not true, as fewer than 3,000 heavy vehicles have obtained verification.

“We have the capacity to handle the volume. They are just taking a wait-and-see approach,” he said.

According to Loke, the installation, configuration and activation of speed limiters must be verified by bodies recognised by the Road Transport Department.

A slip on the verification and functionality of the speed limiters would then be issued.

“This slip must be presented during motor vehicle inspections during renewal permits with the relevant government bodies. It must also be kept in the vehicle at all times, and renewed every two years to ensure the device is functioning well,” he said.

Loke said there would, however, be some leeway during enforcement, where those who have yet to verify the functionality of their speed limiters would be issued a notice, not a summons.

It would, however, require the vehicle to be present at a Road Transport Department office within 10 days to present evidence that its speed limiters have been verified.

He added that while there are no plans to involve Puspakom in the process, it would not be omitted forever.

In July, Loke stated that the enforcement of speed limiters in heavy vehicles would be carried out in phases, with the first phase set to begin in October.

Under the first phase, heavy commercial vehicles registered after Jan 1, 2015, must obtain verification that their speed limitation devices are functional before October.

The second phase would make it mandatory for heavy vehicles registered before Jan 1, 2015 to activate their speed limiters.

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

This comes after 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students died earlier this year when their chartered bus overturned after colliding with a multi-purpose vehicle on the East-West Highway near Gerik.

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