Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced that Malaysia will begin enforcing mandatory speed limiters for heavy vehicles in a phased approach, aimed at improving road safety following a series of fatal incidents involving large vehicles.
The first phase begins this October 2025, focusing on the verification and activation of speed limiter devices in applicable vehicles. Full enforcement will kick off in July 2026.
Who Will Be Affected
The ruling applies to:
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Tour buses
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Express buses
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Heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg
For new vehicles registered from January 2025 onwards, the speed limiter must be activated and verified before October 2025.
Device Sourcing and Certification
Speed limiter units must be sourced only from:
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Vehicle manufacturers
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Recognised technical service providers
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Certified workshops or service centres approved by JPJ (Road Transport Department)
Once verified, a certification document must be obtained and:
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Renewed every two years
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Presented at inspection centres during new permit applications or renewals
Loke stressed that the document must also be carried in the vehicle at all times for enforcement checks.
Older Vehicles Not Exempt
The second phase of the plan will extend the speed limiter requirement to heavy vehicles registered before January 2025. These vehicles will need to activate their devices and follow the same two-year verification cycle.
Policy Driven by Tragedy
The announcement comes in the wake of a tragic bus accident on June 9, which claimed the lives of 15 Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students near Gerik. The incident has accelerated the government’s efforts to close safety gaps in the public and commercial transport sector.
Minister Loke emphasized the importance of eliminating loopholes in policy enforcement, saying, “We need a strict and holistic policy to ensure speed limiters work as intended to enhance road safety.”
