Question: Can you please tell me what would be a safe speed to set speed limiters on our delivery drivers vans owned by the company? Is there a need to set speed limiters higher in order for the driver to be able to pass?
Answer
I've resurrected this article from about 6 years ago in view of the fact that our government has legislated the installation of speed limiters in some commercial vehicles licensed in B.C. effective April 5, 2024:
Speed limiters required for certain commercial vehicles
146.1 (1) In this section and section 146.2:
"heavy commercial vehicle" means a commercial vehicle, other than a commercial vehicle excluded by regulation from this definition, that
(a) is a motor vehicle manufactured after 1994,
(b) has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 11 793 kg,
(c) has an electronically controlled engine, and
(d) meets prescribed criteria, if any;
"speed limiter" means a system including all programs, components and equipment of a motor vehicle that together can prevent the motor vehicle from accelerating to, or maintaining a rate of speed exceeding, a set rate of speed.
(2) A person must not drive or operate a heavy commercial vehicle on a highway unless all of the following requirements are met:
(a) the vehicle is equipped with a speed limiter;
(b) the speed limiter is activated;
(c) the speed limiter is set to the prescribed maximum rate of speed;
(d) the vehicle and speed limiter meet prescribed requirements, if any.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person who is exempted, by regulation, from that subsection.
(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may, by regulation, establish other prohibitions or requirements in relation to heavy commercial vehicles and speed limiters.
Enforcement respecting speed limiters
146.2 (1) For the purposes of determining whether a motor vehicle is being driven or operated in compliance with section 146.1, a peace officer may, without a warrant, do any of the following:
(a) require the driver or operator to stop the vehicle;
(b) enter and inspect the vehicle;
(c) inspect, test and retrieve information from the vehicle's speed limiter.
(2) A person must not interfere with, hinder or obstruct a peace officer who is exercising a power under this section.
(3) In a prosecution for an offence under section 146.1 (2) (a), (b) or (c), proof that a person drove or operated a heavy commercial vehicle at a rate of speed exceeding the maximum rate prescribed for the purposes of section 146.1 (2) (c) is proof, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the person contravened the provision.
A bulletin released by Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement includes the following information:
Under the amended Motor Vehicle Act Regulations (Division 7E), speed limiters must be set to a maximum speed of 105 km/h and kept in good working order. The vehicles’ electronic control module must be accurately programmed, and tampering technology is prohibited.
Noncompliance may result in the issuance of 3 driver penalty points.
Other jurisdictions with similar requirements have seen reductions in crashes. Following the implementation of their speed limiter mandate, Ontario experienced a 73% decrease in speed related collisions involving heavy commercial vehicles.
As heavy commercial vehicles regularly travel cross-country, this requirement will provide consistency for carriers and truckers who travel between B.C., Ontario and Quebec, where speed limiter requirements also exist.
Reference Link
Summary Report - Assessment of a Heavy Truck Speed Limiter Requirement in Canada
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Since the speed limit is the legal maximum and going faster is an offence, there should be no need to exceed it for passing purposes. Passing is not a justification for exceeding the speed limit. I've always thought that if you had to speed in order to pass, the vehicle you were passing didn't need to be passed in the first place.
I'll research information on limit setting that would be useful to you and will respond with it when I find more.
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From what he said to me was if someone is going 95 he would like to pass and can’t do so as it is set at 100 kph on the governor. I did explain we pay by the hour so I am not sure as to why the need for speed, especially when it involves the public.
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The reason I ask, is that many highways in BC have limits set at 100, 110, or even 120 km/h.
If that's the case, it could be a tedious process for a governor limited vehicle to pass another, creating a train of vehicles behind them; and in some circumstances, obeying the 'Slower Traffic Keep Right' type rules all but impossible ...
Then again, you make a good point about why an employee who is paid by the hour has the need for speed if staying out of the hammer lane is a viable option.
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We are located in Northern BC. We travel daily, the highest highway sign is 100km/h
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Would GPS or satellite fleet tracking be a better solution than a speed governor? Most GPS, even an inexpensive hiking-type GPS, can provide a continuous record of driving speed. You could then easily check the average and maximum speeds of your drivers and see exactly where they were when they were speeding. If they indulge in frequent excessive speeding, you can then deal with them appropriately.
Anomalies in the GPS satellite signal can give an erroneous speed over a 20 metre segment. But over say 500 m of 20 m segments, it will average out to an accurate value. Presumably you would only take action against a driver if the excessive speeding was repeated frequently despite warnings.
For what it is worth, here are my thoughts and experiences in relation to driving speed on many long trips on Highway 16.
I mostly drive on northern BC highways. Although the posted speed limit is 100 kph or 110 kph, most people I know (who otherwise are law-abiding) travel at 10 to 20 kph over the posted limit. I don't agree with that attitude. I feel that the law is the law and if you disagree you should try to change the law, not just disobey it.
I often do an 800 k trip on Hwy 16 driving at 90 kph (speed limit minus 10, not speed limit plus10). Of course, I take every reasonable opportunity to let people who want to go faster pass me. But my impression is that most drivers in northern BC are much more relaxed and philosphical about journeys than are drivers in the lower mainland and, apart from a very few hotheads and boy racers, other drivers seem quite relaxed about slowing a little for a few kilometers until there is a clear section of road or a passing lane. Not uncommonly, some seem glad of an excuse to slow down and cruise along at my speed half a kilometer behind me.
Strangely, when northern BC'ers drive on an 60 or 80 kph rural road, it seems they do get desperate to drive at 100 kph.
The main reasons that I drive at 90 kph on a 100 kph highway are:-
1. Safety. It shortens the distance I travel when I am reacting and braking in an emergency.
2. Fuel efficiency, which helps both my bank account and the planet.
3. Less wear and tear on brakes, transmission and engine especially when combined with anticipating necessary speed reductions and avoiding harsh accelerations, which helps both my bank account and the planet.
4. As you will know, wildlife suddenly appearing on the highway is a reality of northern BC driving. Hitting a moose, elk, mule deer or bear is not likely to do vehicle, driver, passengers, insurance premiums or beast much good. Additionally for me, although I am not sentimental about animals (well maybe just a little), I sure feel bad when I see one injured or killed unneccessarily. So this not only potentially helps both my bank account and the planet, but also helps my morale.
5. I find it less stressful driving at a slightly slower speed on the relatively quiet northern BC roads. I suspect that would not be the case on the congested roads of the lower mainland. Unfortunately this is not good for the planet as it means I will live longer and hence consume more non-renewable natural resources. But I do my best to offset that by trying to do more good than harm.
6. The posted limit is the "maximum speed", not the "minimum". If I try to drive at exactly the posted speed, inevitably I will often exceed that speed.
OK, so I am a little guilty of self-righteousness and being pedantic on that last one. But cut me some slack; nobody's perfect!
I hope this helps. Thank you for being concerned that your fleet is driven well .
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I asked the folks at Road Safety at Work for advice. Rick Walters (Fleet Safety Program Manager) did a quick opinion poll including some feedback from SafetyDriven and responded:
One
We had the limiters set at 110 for the buses as that was the max legal speed we encountered back then. Some companies use a lower limit and others allow a few km/hr over speed limit.
Two
Speed limiters are hit and miss with employers, from what I’ve seen. If it’s set at 100 km/h or less, they will be travelling below the speed limit in some areas, possibly inviting greater risks as other drivers are constantly overtaking them.
Setting the limiter at 110 km/h allows them to keep up with the speed limit in more areas throughout BC and Canada. However, trucks with speed limiters set to 110 km/hr will be able to travel over the speed limit in areas where speed limit is less than 110 km/hr, which may defeat the purpose of limiters. The employer could try setting the limit to lower speed limit and see how the driver’s respond to it. It may take a few adjustments before they get it right.
Three
Again, I have little experience with speed limiters, but it make sense to set the limiter at the greatest speed limit the vehicle will encounter as the go about their delivery route. However, some employers have their own rules about maximum speed, and set the limiters at 90 km/hr even though they regularly travel highways with 100 km/hr limit. Others may want their delivery trucks to never exceed 55 or 80 km/hr - even though the speed limit is 60 or 90 km/hr, and would set limiters accordingly. In any event, the most effective speed limiter is probably a skilled driver that knows the rules, drives to the conditions and conscientiously limits their own speed to allow a "cushion" of error.
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Sorry but speed limiters or governors are inherently dangerous. If an employer can't trust his/her driver to be responsible, the problem is much deeper than "avoiding overspeed".
Pull out to pass and find that some jerk speeds up on your inside is not a good feeling. If this puts you on the outside of a double center line, cresting a hill or approaching a blind corner, excess speed (legal or otherwise) is far better than a head-on crash.
What are your choices? Move to the right and run the idiot off the road? The investigators will be on your case as "you caused the crash". Perhaps a dash-cam pointed the right way may exonerate you ... but I wouldn't count on it.
Logic would have a governor set to 120 as that is the maximum limit in BC. So what effect does it have where the limit is less than that? Somewhat useless ....
Most heavy truck drivers that I know will run about 100 - 105 even if the posted limit is higher. Why? Because this is about the best fuel efficiency range. Also, most heavy truck tires are designed for a 60 mph maximum speed. Occasional bursts over that are not a problem however, consistent overspeed can and will cause tire failure.
I may not be doing it anymore but if I didn't have an employer's trust, I don't need that employer.
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One could always use the brake and pull back into the lane they left...
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But let's keep in mind also that - provided the driver passing gives an audible warning - then the driver being passed is required not to be a jerk. Though I'll betcha none of the Highway Patrol guys ever handed over a ticket to them for their dangerous, illegal behaviour when they do speed up.
I don't think I'm alone in saying that every time I pull out to pass on a highway, I carefully consider all of the factors, particularly speed, visibility, and distance. Oftentimes, I don't even attempt a pass because it isn't safe.
But once I've decided that the maneuver is justified, then I'll get it done, efficiently. And safely. Keeping in mind that the longer my vehicle is adjacent to the vehicle I'm passing, the greater the risk; particularly on a highway with only one lane of travel in each direction.
I may not be doing it anymore but if I didn't have an employer's trust, I don't need that employer.
And that cuts both ways.
I mean, if you don't trust the employee, why are you continuing to employ them?
Meanwhile, if as an employer your want to see how your company vehicles are driven, then install dashcams - and fire any of your drivers who demonstrate unsafe behaviour on the road when you review the evidence. Also fire any drivers who unplug the dashcam ...
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True .... but I should have mentioned that I've had idiots purposely speed up and slow down to block my return to the right hand lane.
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I am getting calls from the public regarding his driving and speed. It hasn't been one or two people. I am trying my best to save him from looking elsewhere for employment, this is the last thing i wanted to do by putting a govenor on the delivery vehicles, that is why i put the question to drive BC.
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If his driving is bringing complaints, this reflects on your company and how he is representing the company in public.
Never mind the possible insurance risk.
Do him a favour, and your company, and let him go to find the opportunity to do something else, somewhere else.
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If you are already getting complaints are you making this driver aware of them?
If not this is something you should start right now.
First complaint - verbal warning
second complaint - written warning
third complaint - 1 week suspension
fourth complaint - bye bye
It's not your job to babysit this driver or govern a truck at max speed only, he can keep speeding everywhere else that has a lower speed limit and keep tarnishing your company name because it appears he doesn't care.
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We're having a discussion out-of-step with current vehicle technologies. Modern vehicles with navigation systems have the capacity to identify the speed limit in effect, and either warn the driver of overspeed or actually limit vehicle speed accordingly. Any vehicle used for work-related driving can and should be equipped with this sort of technology, which is by now some years old already. They pre-date mandatory standard Electronic Stability Control (2012), which is the level of equipment that should be required of any vehicle used for work purposes.
Failing that, it is also possible to equip drivers with a similar overspeed warning app on their smart phones, same GPS technology. No fan of cell phones etc in the driving environment, but that's not going away any time soon, so why not use them for good instead of evil? Set "Mute/automatic message", enable "Speed limit", and drive safer. Travelling sales people find this a useful license-saver, because they're always under the pressure of time, and struggling with priorities.
Further - there are plug-in monitoring devices (usually to the OBD port) that can provide real-time and synopsis information about where/how the vehicle's being used. Where this can be linked to speed limit mapping, you have rather an obvious option for driver behaviour monitoring and performance feedback. This is also a very useful tool for parents and guardians of new drivers, especially where not just driving behaviour, but also location, can become critical information.
Along those lines, there are companies in some areas that have for some years been doing live monitoring of driver behaviour for fleet operators in particular; the drivers who are "outside parameters" are provided direct feedback, which does apparently tend to reduce "outside" incidents and, importantly, crashes/injuries. Simple behavioural science, really, coupled with readily available technologies.
There is, of course, the inevitable "freedom to drive" argument to address; of course a driver has to be able to respond appropriately to conditions, but the traffic safety science is absolute on the subject of overspeed and collision risk. So, frankly, speeding up simply is not the answer. Better initial judgement, including the decision not pass, for instance, is. And that judgement has been proven to be well-supported by driver assistance systems such as vehicle speed management and driver monitoring.
Finally, consider this: the on-board Event Data Recorder already installed as standard equipment in vehicles for many years has the capacity to provide information about how the vehicle has been operated over various periods of time. Insurance companies are already using this monitoring system to offer "driver performance bonuses" at the close of insurance terms; stay within speed limits and avoid sudden manouevres, and your insurance costs you less. Unquestionably, this will increasingly become the way forward for the insurance industry, probably to the point that it will simply be a condition of insurance, rather that an opportunity to reduce your policy costs.
So, we're already way, way past the ancient limitations of mechanical speed governors, and well into a world of options for improved management of driver behaviour. Time we started to use them.
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My View on Speed Limiters