Speed limiters have enhanced road safety in 2013

• 35,000 operational mini buses have such speed limiters installed.
• 100+ types of vehicles including mini-passenger buses like Toyota HiAce, Nissan Urvan, Hyundai H1 etc. have been installed with speed limiters.

Dubai, Jan 15, 2014: The UAE Ministry of Interior (MoI) had issued a notice for mandating speed limiters for private passenger buses that hold a capacity of 22 passengers in line with a recommendation it received to that effect from the Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA). Owners of mini buses were then given a March 2013 deadline to comply with it. By now, about 70% of the 50,000 operational mini buses have such speed limiters installed. The maximum speed limit set by the Ministry for mini buses is 100kmph.

There are 100+ types of vehicles including mini-passenger buses like Toyota HiAce, Nissan Urvan, Hyundai H1 etc. in the rule and those that do not have a speed limiter will not get a pass certificate necessary for renewal of annual registration.

“It was a tragic accident with a very close friend that led me to venture into implementing speed limit for mini buses transporting workers,” said Mr. Mohammed Ashraf, Managing Director of Autograde, a company that manufacturers and markets government-approved speed limiters in the UAE. “Speeding incidents involving mini buses and passenger buses have significantly reduced following the move to install these devices. Many accidents are caused by over-speeding. This is why the UAE MoI had made it mandatory for mini buses to install speed limiters,” he added.

Ashraf was referring to statistics announced recently by Dubai Police traffic department, about speeding offences in Dubai for 2013 standing at 1.19 million or 67 per cent of the total violations recorded during the period.

There are 110 ‘fitment' centers selected by Autograde across the UAE -- privately-owned facilities authorized by Autograde as fitting centers or auto workshops to ensure the gear is installed properly. Over 45 such centers are in Dubai alone.

After fitting the equipment, the centers set the limit with a tamper-proof device before issuing a certificate indicating the kit was installed properly. Ashraf said they qualify workshops and train technicians too. Autograde started supplying speed limiters to ENOC-Tasjeel petrol stations in JAFZA and Warsan on April 1.

Enumerating the other benefits of speed limiters, they also afford drivers better control of their vehicles, help in reducing fuel consumption by keeping the vehicle in optimum speed zone. Moreover, control over speeding means reduced need for braking, less vibration, less engine strain, and less wear and tear. Additionally, speed limiters result in optimum performance of the engine, resulting in ideal firing with minimum exhaust gases, thus reducing air pollution. From the drivers' point of view, speeding fines have come down drastically since the move to mandate the use of speed limiters on commercial vehicles.

The new order to make it mandatory for buses to have speed limiters has impacted more than 253,000 pupils in Dubai who are served by more than 3,000 buses. School buses were already required to have speed control systems limiting them to 80 km/h. Overall, the initiative has been a great success in 2013 and will further see improvement in the coming year.