Speed limitation on-board devices of certain categories of motor vehicles (until 2014)

In the interests of road safety, the European Union is limiting the maximum road speed of heavy goods and passenger-carrying vehicles circulating within the Community.

ACT

Council Directive 92/24/EEC of 31 March 1992 relating to speed limitation devices or similar speed limitation on-board systems of certain categories of motor vehicles [See amending acts].

SUMMARY

Speed limitation devices for heavy motor vehicles help improve road safety by reducing the wear and tear on engines and tyres and the severity of injuries resulting from accidents. They also have positive effects on atmospheric pollution and fuel consumption. The European Union has therefore considered it necessary for vehicles circulating within the Community to be equipped with such devices.

Scope

This directive applies to EEC type-approved speed limitation devices and similar systems which fulfil the same speed limitation function.

It initially applied only to heavy motor vehicles. Amended by Directive 2004/11/EC, it has been extended to cover all buses and all goods transport vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes. It now applies to all M2, M3, N2 and N3 category motor vehicles (as defined in Annex II of Directive 70/156/EEC) intended for on-road use, having at least four wheels and a maximum design speed exceeding 25km/h.

Requirements

The directive requires that the speed limitation device be so designed, constructed and assembled as to resist corrosion and ageing phenomena, and that it be resistant to tampering so that the limitation threshold can neither be increased nor overridden.

EEC type-approval

The application for EEC type-approval for the speed limitation of a vehicle type must be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer, but for a speed limitation device as a technical unit it must be submitted by the manufacturer of that device.

If the requirements of the Directive have been met, the Member States may not, on grounds relating to the speed limitation devices, refuse EEC or national type-approval for a vehicle or a speed limitation device, nor may they refuse the registration, sale, or entry into service of a vehicle or a speed limitation device.

In contrast, the Member States are obliged to refuse, on grounds relating to the speed limitation devices, EC or national type-approval for vehicles or speed limitation devices which do not satisfy the requirements of the Directive. In addition, as of 1 January 2005, they must also ban the sale, registration and entry into service of vehicles or speed limitation devices that do not comply with the requirements of the Directive.

Background

Directive 92/24/EEC is one of the separate Directives of the Community type-approval procedure established by Directive 70/156/EEC. By harmonising the technical provisions relating to speed limitation devices and speed limitation systems, it therefore plays a part in ensuring the smooth operation of the internal market.

RELATED ACTS

Council Directive 92/6/EEC of 10 February 1992 on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community [OJ L 57 of 02.03.1992], amended by Directive 2002/85/EC of 5 November 2002 [OJ L 327 of 4.12.2002]. Directive 1992/6/EEC stipulates that motor vehicles may only circulate within the European Community if they are equipped with a speed limitation device for which a maximum speed is set. The Directive was initially aimed at heavy vehicles. Subsequent to its amendment by Directive 2002/85/EC, it has been extended to cover light commercial vehicles.

Last updated: 18.07.2005