Posted By Andrew Shaw We are currently bringing in to force a new and more restrictive Driving Policy which to be fair is being accepted with only minimal grumbling by most. We do however have a number of persistent speeders. 90mph plus. The idea has been raised of fitting speed restrictors to their vehicles. This to circumvent the problem that we don't want them to speed but we do need them to drive. What do fellow forum users think about Speed Restrictors.

Posted By Andrew Shaw Nice one!

Posted By b318isp I don't think this is the answer as you can drive dangerously, at a speed inappropriate for conditions or above a (low) speed limit even with a limiter. It sounds like you have a behavioural problem that needs to be tackled by things such as training, regular assessment, disciplinary actions, etc. You may also want to review licences and penalty points issued per driver on a regualar basis. You could also consider a safe driving phone number for the rear of company vehicles. Trying to get to the root causes of speeding may help too (e.g. calls per day, expected distances to be driven, stayover rules, etc.).

Posted By Lukasz I found it really useful when driving for a long period of time on motorways which not only stopped persistent offenders but also reduced costs of fuel...

Posted By Lukasz Andrew, We have as well something installed in vans (Minors Planet), however, we do not receive pdf but we can check online position of the vehicle and current speed and status of the vehicle... If you would like more information email me and I will dig deeper...

Posted By Stefan Daunt When I had an issue with speeding last year I had the vans limited to 70mph as they are built to be restricted if required. However, I don't think you can speed limit cars? Not by the engine management system anyway as I had spoken to Vauxhall and SEAT reference re-striction and they advised it was not possible.

Posted By gerry d Are senior management involved in the speeding? That would go a long way (pardon the pun) to explaining resistance to any significant action. Aren`t company cars a perk? Even though the `offences` are committed at weekends, these people should have the perk removed if they can`t demonstrate the appropriate responsibility. Went to one of our safety meeting last Spring and we were given a very hard hitting `course` run by the local fire and rescue service. Maybe something like this might prick the conscience and/ or raise awareness because there are lot of drivers out there who think it`ll never be them. How wrong they might be.

Posted By Andrew Shaw Thanks everyone for all your responses. Nice to know that we all suffer the same issues. Just in answer to some points. No, senior management are no involved in the speeding. On the up side, I have draughted a letter while this discussion has been going on, invoking a new 3 strikes in rule (mentioned by a contributor early on) resulting in a one month suspension from authority to drive company vehicles. Any financial loss incurred as a result of the suspension will be stood by the section of the business involved thereby put responsibility on management to avoid this loss by ensuring their employees stick to the rules. This has been agreed by the owner of the business and will be circulated to management next week for comment and circulated more widely thereafter. We see how it goes down. Thanks again Andy

Posted By holmezy The argument put forward that because its at the weekend, it not "AT WORK", won't hold up. At the end of the day,if its a Company car the Company is liable. You need to be seen to managing the risk and if that means telling the drivers that the car can only be used for business purposes, must keep to the speed limits, 3 strikes and your out,,,,,,,,whatever it is, the Company makes the rules and the employees should follow. Similarly, the Company has an obligation to ensure that the cars are roadworthy and legal, that doesn't end on a Friday evening and start on a Monday morning! "IF" you ever have aserious accident or incident involving a Company vehicle, you'll need all the ducks in arow, at the moment you seem to missing a few ducks....Quack Quack!! Good Luck trying to convince Directors, they were and still are my buggest obstacle!! Have a look at Fleet Support Group's product called RiskMaster. It should help you manage the risk! Holmezy

Posted By Brett Day Also don't forget the Road Traffic Act - there is a 'cause or permit' offence if you knowingly allow drivers to commit offences under the RTA (using your cars) you can be deemed to have permitted an offence, with a subsequent prosecution of the company, this has happened before with a drink driver involved in an accident out of work hours but in a company car. Whilst limiters will work on NSL roads they will have no effect on lower speed limit roads. Another daft question - in work hours is enough time being allowed to travel safely ? Not excusing drivers behaviour but if there is a chase to get to the next appointment mentality, this can transfer over to out of work driving. Once started this can take a while to sort out. Both RoSPA ROADA and IAM Fleet do 'observer' sessions where a trainer can go out with a driver and assess them with recommendations for further training. b318isp has made some very pertinent points, so I won't repeat them. I personally wouldn't go for "low power cars" as they have thier on safety issues, especially on overtakes, however, I certainly would not even contemplate buying the 'sports or 'performance' models of cars for your fleet.

Posted By Chris Packham May I ask a silly question? What do we mean by speeding? Are we just speaking about exceeding a stated maximum speed limit, or are we speaking about exceeding the maximum safe speed at the time, given the actual conditions? Remember that these are just maximum permitted speeds, not safe speeds. There are many occasions where in a 30 mph zone 15 would be too fast. I have yet to see a speed restrictor that can adjust to road, weather and traffic conditions. Also are there speed restrictors that adjust to the maximum speed at the time and location, i.e. limit to 70 on the motorway, 30 in the town, etc.? Chris

Posted By Chris Packham Merv I completely agree with you. I think that was in a sense the point I was trying to make. Simply fitting a speed restrictor might stop someone exceeding the maximum speed on a motorway. However, this seems to me ensuring regulatory compliance and little to do with health and safety, as in some circumstances 50 mph on the motorway would be excessive. Why people speed and how you reduce this is a complex topic. In my view simplistic answers, such as a speed restrictor, will do little to solve the problem. And I believe that most accidents happen in towns and close to home. Chris

Posted By Brett Day With regard the "How is my driving sticker" whilst I like an idea many a far too small to be read clearly at a distance - I've seen cars tailgating trying to read signs on the back of vehicles with this type of sticker - so lets have them big and clear please !

Posted By Alan Nicholls Speed restrictors are not the answer. It has to be an change in attitude. If you have and operate company vehicles with corporate sinage on them, you stand a greater chance of drivers being reported for driving badly; the web is a good place to find where a company lives. In some ways it pays to advertise, some times it doesn't. Back in the 70's the company I worked for, which involved driving; had a policy that if you loose your licence through speeding or dangerous driving, you had no job. At the time it seemed unfair. However it didn't take long for people to realise what the real cost would be. Licence, Job, House, Marriage etc. Thankfully only 1 driver ever got the chop; not at work but going to work twice the legal drink limit. You could always try advanced driver training. It may well educate them. regards Alan

Posted By Andrew Murdy It seems to me from reading this forum that draconian rules based upon assumed risks are the way to go. Inappropriate speed is dangerous - even if it is 10mph through a crowd after the football. What we really need are people to be engaged in sensible risk management - at the time - rather than forcing people to behave in ways we desire. Health and safety gets a bad name because people blame stupid restrictions on health and safety, or people impose unreasonable changes in behaviour on people by invoking health and safety as a reason. I like to go fast sometimes. I like to go slow sometimes. I always like to arrive safely. These positions are not exclusive, it just takes sensible risk management. And as I´m currently based in Spain it takes more risk management than it does in the UK! The knee jerk controls that are often considered to enforce a behaviour we want - without persuading people that they want to make the behaviour change - will always create unrest in the media as it is something our society doesn´t want.