JOHOR BARU: Lorry operators in Johor have urged the Transport Ministry to delay the enforcement of the speed limiter device (SLD) system on heavy commercial vehicles, which is set to take effect on Oct 1.
Johor Trucking Association president Chai Pei Yoon (pic) said enforcement should be postponed to next year due to unclear guidelines and cost concerns.
“With less than two months to go until the Oct 1 enforcement date, we are unsure whether local suppliers have enough time to import the devices.
“There is also no standard operating procedure (SOP) from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) or appointed third-party installers at the moment, so operators may end up paying arbitrary installation fees,” she said when interviewed.
The SLD is an automatic system that uses the vehicle’s Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to electronically limit a vehicle’s speed. It regulates speed without shutting off the engine, enhancing operational safety.
Chai noted that many heavy vehicles in the country are more than 10 years old and still use the traditional diesel system instead of the ECU.
She said as such, they would have to rely on third-party installations.
She said that European trucks, including second-hand or reconditioned ones, usually come with SLD installation certificates, whereas Japanese manufacturers do not.
“Local suppliers say they do not have the necessary certificates to install SLDs on Japanese trucks, which is another challenge for us.
“While we support the move to improve road safety and reduce fatal accidents involving heavy vehicles, we are struggling to meet the Oct 1 deadline,” Chai said, adding that a longer grace period and an SOP are needed.
“We hope enforcement can be pushed to Jan 1 to ensure full compliance and prevent lorry operators from receiving summonses due to unclear guidelines.”
She said the association recently met with industry players and would request for a meeting with Transport Minister Anthony Loke to discuss the operators’ concerns and suggestions.
On July 29, Loke told Parliament that the SLD system, which is mandatory in Singapore and European countries, was a crucial step in controlling the speed of heavy vehicles and reducing the risk of fatal accidents, especially involving buses and lorries.
Loke said SLD enforcement will be carried in three phases – Phase 1, starting Oct 1, involves verifying SLD functionality for all commercial vehicles manufactured after Jan 1, 2015.
