Expansion of Speed Limiter Regime
To improve road safety, the Traffic Police (TP) will require lorries with a Maximum Laden Weight (MLW) of between 3,501kg and 12,000kg (inclusive) to be installed with speed limiters, which will ensure that these lorries do not go beyond the speed limit of 60km/h1.
This will be implemented in phases. Lorries in this category can begin installation from 1 January 2024.
Installation of Speed Limiters on Existing Lorries in Singapore
All lorries in Singapore — with a maximum laden weight (MLW) of between 3,501kg and 12,000kg — must soon be equipped with a speed limiter to ensure that they do not exceed the 60km per hour speed limit.
To reduce fatalities & injuries
The Traffic Police (TP) said in a statement on Nov. 3, 2023, that lorry owners can start installing the devices in 2024 and will be given up to three years to do so, depending on the MLW and registration date of the vehicle.
As of now, it is compulsory for goods vehicles with an MLW exceeding 12,000kg to have a speed limiter installed.
The speed limiter complements other measures intended to reduce fatalities and injuries among all road users, the TP said.
Timeline
For lorries registered before 2018, a speed limiter must be installed before 2026 if their MLW is between 5,001kg and 12,000kg. For those with an MLW of between 3,501kg and 5,000kg, it must be completed before July 2026
Newer lorries registered from 2018 will have to install the device before 2027 if the MLW of their vehicle is between 5,001kg and 12,000kg, and before July 2027 if the MLW is between 3,501kg and 5,000kg.
Speed limiters will also be required for imported lorries to be approved for use from 2026.
During the vehicle’s pre-registration, relevant documentation should be submitted to the Land Transport Authority.
The laws against tampering speed limiters, non-compliant speed limiters and unauthorised speed limiters will be reviewed, TP said.
Companies will have to apply to be an authorised agent online by Nov. 30 to supply, install, rectify, or perform inspections on speed limiters for lorries.
A list of authorised companies will be put up on the police website by Dec. 31, 2023.
Companies that are currently authorised to install speed limiters in other vehicles are also required to apply for an authorisation certificate.
Opt for electronic speed limiter
The TP is urging lorry owners to install an electronic control unit-based speed limiter, which is newer and likely to be less expensive.
But not all lorries are compatible with electronic control unit-based speed limiters.
Owners should consult the device installation companies.The alternative is the mechanical speed limiter.Agents authorised by TP will conduct a compliance check after installation to ensure the speed limiter is functioning properly.
The list of authorised agents will be made available at SPF’s website https://www.police.gov.sg/Advisories/Traffic/Traffic-Matters/Speed-Limiter-Authorised-Agents from 1 January 2024 onwards. Lorry owners should approach an Authorised Agent early to arrange for the installation of a speed limiter.
Companies that are keen to supply, install, rectify, or perform inspections on speed limiters will have to apply to be an Authorised Agent at https://go.gov.sg/tp-authorised-agent-application by 31 November 2023. Companies that are already authorised by TP to install speed limiters for other goods vehicles would also need to apply. TP will issue authorisation certificates to successful applicants by 31 December 2023
Requirement for Newly-Imported Lorries
From 1 January 2026, newly imported lorries with MLW between 3,501kg and 12,000kg (inclusive) must be equipped with speed limiters in order to be approved for use in Singapore. The relevant documentation should be submitted to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) when seeking pre-registration approval, to show that the lorry is compliant with TP’s speed limiter requirements.
Annex
Why do I need to install a Speed Limiter
The speed limiter regime aims to improve road safety and driving behaviour. It complements other measures intended to reduce fatalities and injuries among all road users.
Under Singapore’s laws, it is mandatory for speed limiters to be installed in the following categories of vehicles:
a. every goods vehicle having a MLW exceeding 12,000kg and which has, or if a speed limiter is not fitted to it would have, a maximum speed exceeding 60km/h; and
b. every public service vehicle having a MLW exceeding 10,000kg and which has, or if a speed limiter is not fitted to it would have, a maximum speed exceeding 60km/h.
Currently, lorries with a MLW between 3,501kg and 12,000kg (inclusive) are not required by law to have any speed management devices, or speed limiters. The law to have speed limiters will be expanded to all lorries in this weight category progressively over 1 January 2026 to 1 July 2027.
Who needs to install a Speed Limiter
All lorries with a Maximum Laden Weight (MLW) of between 3,501kg and 12,000kg (inclusive).
A speed limiter can only be fitted by an Authorised Agent (AA). An AA is one who undertakes any of the following services relating to speed limiters in Singapore –
(i) Supply;
(ii) Installation;
(iii) Rectification; or
(iv) Inspection of vehicles (fitted with an ECU-based speed limiter).
Only TP can issue authorisation certificates and appoint AAs.
What is a Speed Limiter
Speed limiters limit the maximum speed of a vehicle. In Singapore, it is already a requirement for goods vehicles with MLW above 12,000kg to be fitted with speed limiters and for goods vehicles with MLW not exceeding 3,500kg to be fitted with Speed Warning Devices (SWD). An SWD alerts the driver that he/she has exceeded the speed limit imposed on the vehicle that he is driving.
There are two types of speed limiters – mechanical and Electronic Control Unit (ECU)-based. The ECU-based speed limiter is a newer type of speed limiter. It is estimated to cost less than the mechanical speed limiter. Lorry owners are strongly encouraged to install an ECU-based speed limiter, and should check with AAs on whether their lorry is suitable for installing one. Should the lorry specifications not allow for the installation of such an ECU-based speed limiter, the lorry owner can opt to install a mechanical speed limiter instead.
When to install a Speed Limiter
You are encouraged to install a speed limiter at the earliest opportunity from 1 January 2024 onwards. The timeline is shown in the table below
