Speed Limiters For Lorries & Buses Start 1 October: Everything You Should Know
Following the deadly bus crash in Gerik, the government is introducing mandatory speed control devices for lorries and buses to reduce road fatalities.
By Sadho Ram — 13 Jun 2025, 01:25 PM
Beginning 1 October 2025, Malaysia will start enforcing the use of Speed Limitation Devices (SLDs) in heavy commercial vehicles, Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today, 13 June
The enforcement carried out by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) is part of the government's push to improve road safety by capping the maximum speed of heavy vehicles, such as lorries and buses.
"This device plays a crucial role in preventing speeding, particularly for vehicles carrying heavy loads or passengers," the New Straits Times quoted Loke as saying.
What is a Speed Limitation Device (SLD)?
An SLD is a system that caps how fast a vehicle can go.
For heavy vehicles in Malaysia, the speed will be limited to 90km/h, regardless of whether the road's actual speed limit is higher. Even on highways with a 110km/h limit, these vehicles will still be capped at 90km/h.
"Manufacturers are required to standardise their SLD configurations to only allow a maximum speed of 90km/h," Loke said, urging all industry players to cooperate fully with the initiative.
On lower-speed roads, drivers are still expected to obey the posted limits as usual.
When will enforcement start?
The rollout will happen in three phases, giving time for compliance across different types of vehicles.
Phase 1, starts 1 October 2025
- Affects heavy commercial vehicles registered after 1 January 2015, and includes:
- Tour buses
- Express buses
- Vehicles over 3,500kg
- These vehicles must have their SLDs verified as functional by recognised service providers or accredited bodies.
- Owners must renew the verification every two years, and present it when applying for or renewing their vehicle permits.
- Applies to heavy vehicles registered before 1 January 2015.
- These vehicles must have their existing SLDs activated and verified.
- The certification must be renewed every two years and kept in the vehicle at all times for enforcement checks.
- Targets vehicles that don't currently have speed limiters installed, and affects:
- All heavy vehicles over 3,500kg
- Vehicles carrying more than eight passengers
- These vehicles must be fitted with SLDs that meet JPJ specifications.
The enforcement plan follows a tragic crash on 9 June
On that day, a chartered bus carrying Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students overturned after colliding with an MPV near Gerik on the East-West Highway.
Fifteen students were killed, and 33 others were injured.
The bus driver has since been arrested.
