Dip sticks with 60 for British limiters
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• UK legislation requiring all new HGVs to have 60mph speed limiters from 1 August will remain, says Transport Secretary Malcolm Rifkind.
This is despite agreeing to a conflicting European Community directive making 56mph limiters compulsory for new trucks over 12 tonnes from 1 January 1994. But Rifkind has confirmed that the proposed 7.5-tonne UK threshold could be raised to 12 tonnes.
If this does not happen, Britain could be left after 1994 with lorries of over 7.5 and below 12 tonnes being allowed to travel at 60mph, while their heavier counterparts are kept to 56mph.
Government plans for the retrofitment of limiters on existing trucks could also change. At present the UK wants tractive units over 16 tonnes used from 1 August 1988 to have limiters installed by 1 August next year.
EC legislation requires vehicles over 12 tonnes, registered after 1 January 1988 and used internationally, to be fitted by 1 January 1995 and trucks used only for domestic trips to be fitted by 1 Janauary 1996.
Rifkind will also examine proposals for the calibration and sealing of limiters, following a meeting with the trade associations last week.