Limiters likely
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• The Department of Transport has reaffirmed its intention to make road speed limiters mandatory on new coaches — and retrospectively on older models — in the Latest statement on PSV safety delivered by Transport Minister David Mitchell.
Speaking at last week's Bus and Coach Council annual conference in Harrogate, Mitchell claimed that while present speed limits are reasonable, "despite industry's efforts, we believe that speed limiters are necessary to control irresponsible drivers," The British Standards Institute is expected to publish a technical standard for speed limiters by the end of October, and according to Mitchell, these will form the basis of any regulations which we expect to make early next year."
The Department of Transport says the new regulations will be introduced by making amendments to the current Construction and Use regulations.
Although any new regulations making road speed limiters mandatory will initially be likely to apply only to new vehicles, Mitchell confirmed the Dip's desire to have them fitted to all coaches, with the industry having to undertake a retrofit programme on older vehicles. "New coaches and, at a later date, existing ones, will be fitted with limiters," said Mitchell.
The DTp's desire to make road speed limiters mandatory on coaches follows its promise to investigate coach safety — made last year by the then Transport Minister Lynda Chalker after the Scottish Bus Group M6 coach crash in which 13 people were killed (CM, October 26).
Mitchell warned BCC delegates that anti-lock braking systems could also be required on coaches in the near future. "We are discussing in Brussels the possibility of mandatory fitting of anti-lock devices on new coaches," he said.
During his speech Mitchell also expressed concern over vehicle maintenance standards, claiming that "many operators are not taking seriously enough their obligations to keep their vehicles properly roadworthy. The failure rate on initial examination at annual test last year was over 19%."
Although this rate has dropped by 6% since 1982, Mitchell said he was worried that some operators are now relaxing their efforts. The DTp has taken on extra staff in its vehicle inspectorate he says, and it has recently carried out the first of a series of vehicle surveys to determine the state of buses on UK roads. It will consult with the BCC when the results are published.
On the subject of safety, Mitchell also said that the DTp intends to crack down on drivers who give running commentaries to passengers while driving their coaches.