NEW VEHICLE FITMENT
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WHAT'S ON THE TABLE UK: From 1 August 1992 every new vehicle over 7.5 tonnes and capable of exceeding 60mph must be fitted with a top speed limiter which meets 135AU 217 and is set at 60mph*.
EC: From 1 January 1994 every new vehicle over 12 tonnes must be fitted with a top speed limiter set at 90Itrn/h (57mph)*.
* See limiter tolerances.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The ultimate aim of the Community is to adopt the EC's limiter directive, but Rifkind has made it clear that the UK will press ahead with its own 60mph limiters via amendments to the C&U and Type Approval regs. So far the EC has avoided a confrontation; no attempt has been made to impose the 90km/h Euro-limit in the UK before 1994, so in the meantime UK law will apply.
However, the UK regs cover vehicles over 7.5 tonnes while the EC directive is set at 12 tonnes — so we could have 7.51-12-tonners allowed to go at 60mph with heavies restricted to 90km/h.
WHAT'S ON THE TABLE UK: Retrospective fitment is being sought for every artic where the tractive unit has a GVW over 16 tonnes, and for every rigid with a GVW over 16 tonnes and a plated GTW five tonnes above its GVW. This is due to govern all relevant vehicles first used on or after 1 August 1993.
EC: Retrofitment is demanded for every goods vehicle over 12 tonnes registered after 1 January 1988. Trucks used on international journeys must be fitted by 1 January 1995. Domestic trucks by 1 January 1996. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The DTp is still consulting over the final wording for the UK retrofitment regs. Marsham Street will have to get a move on as retrofitment affects far more vehicles. Both the trade associations want a simpler breakpoint of over 32.5 tonnes for artics, but they disagree about rigids.
The FTA says a rigid should only be retrofitted if it is hauling a drawbar trailer and the prime mover has a GTW over 3.5 tonnes. It also wants the compliance deadlne extended by a year to 1 August 1994. The RHA opposes