Maximum authorised settings for speed limitation devices in commercial vehicles

Commercial vehicles may be used on the road in the European Union only if they are equipped with a speed limitation device set in such a way that the vehicle cannot exceed a certain speed according to its category.

ACT

Directive 2002/85/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 November 2002 amending Council Directive 92/6/EEC on the installation and use of speed limitation devices for certain categories of motor vehicles in the Community.

SUMMARY

Pursuant to Directive 92/6/EEC, heavy vehicles (motor vehicles of category M3 having a maximum mass of more than 10 tonnes and motor vehicles of category N3) may be used on the roads only if they are equipped with a speed limitation device set in such a way that the vehicle cannot exceed speeds of 100 or 90 kilometres per hour according to its category.

Directive 2002/85/EC extends the scope of Directive 92/6/EEC to light commercial vehicles. The motor vehicles now covered are those in categories M2 and M3 (passenger vehicles) and categories N2 and N3 (goods vehicles), as defined in Annex II to Directive 70/156/EEC.

Motor vehicles of categories M2 and M3 registered after 1 January 2005 must be equipped with a speed limitation device set in such a way that their speed cannot exceed 100 kilometres per hour. Vehicles of categories N2 and N3 registered as from that date must be equipped with a speed limitation device set in such a way that their speed cannot exceed 90 kilometres per hour.

Member States are authorised to require that the speed limitation device in vehicles registered in their territory and used exclusively for the transport of dangerous goods is set in such a way that those vehicles cannot exceed a maximum speed of less than 90 kilometres per hour.

These rules for speed limitation devices contribute to Community action to improve road safety.

RELATED ACTS

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.

Last updated: 25.11.2005