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Introduction of speed limitation for light commercial road vehicles (LCV)

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.5 / Subcat-No.5.5

General Information

Title

FACT SHEET NO.: Cat-No.5 / Subcat-No.5.5

Category

5. Efficiency standards & Flanking measures

Subcategory

5.5 Flanking measures: regulation

Transport policy measure (TPM)

Introduction of speed limitation for light commercial road vehicles (LCV)

Description of TPM

Definition LCV:
A light commercial vehicle (LCV, often referred to as a 'van') is defined as a commercial freight vehicle (N1 vehicle class in EU legislation) with a maximum weight (GVW) of 3.5 tonnes. Currently, light commercial road vehicles (LCVs) have the same speed limitations as passenger cars. The number of LCV has been, and still is, rising fast and LCVs account for almost 15 % of Europe's road vehicle stock.
There are two main reasons to set a reduced speed limit for LCVs:
1. LCVs contribute significantly to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions of transport. The European Commission adopted a Communication 'COM(2007)19 final' which provides a comprehensive strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and LCVs sold in the European Union. [1] [7]
2. Accidents in which LCVs are involved are often serious, especially for the crash opponent. [8]The exact new speed limit for LCVs in Europe is still uncertain. A 100 km/h speed limit for LCVs on motorways is under investigation, but a comprehensive strategy for all roads is also a possibility.

Implementation examples

Until now, LCVs have the same speed limit as passenger cars. Speed regulations take only trucks and coaches into account.
Upcoming regulation:
- Starting in 2014, 70 % of new LCVs up to 3.5 tonnes must comply with an average emission limit of 175 grams CO2 per kilometre. This percentage increases to 75 % in 2015 and 80 % in 2016. As from 2017, all new LCVs have to fulfill the limit. In 2020, the limit will decrease to 147 grams CO2 per kilometre. [10]

Objectives of TPM

There are two main objectives of the TPM:
1. Reduce CO2 emissions from LCVs. LCV legislation is part of the EU’s CO2 Strategy to reduce emissions by 20 % in 2020. In order to reach this objective LCVs CO2 emissions will be limited. One way to reach lower CO2 emissions is to reduce speed limits (on motorways). A 100 km/h speed limit for LCVs on motorways will reduce LCVs CO2 emissions nearly by 7 %. [8]
2. Improve safety for all road users. LCVs are bigger and heavier than passenger cars and their rear view is not sufficient. Especially their large mass contributes to the seriousness of accidents involving LCVs. Crash opponents fatality rate is twice as high for LCVs as for passenger cars. A reduced speed limit leads to less accidents and decreasing seriousness of injuries. [8]

Choice of transport mode / Multimodality

Origin and/or destination of trip

Trip frequency

Choice of route

Timing (day, hour)

Occupancy rate / Loading factor

Energy efficiency / Energy usage

Fuel consumption decreases due to lower speeds for LCVs. Experiments in the Netherlands showed that speed limits on motorways (limited to 110 km/h instead of 120 km/h) in LCVs resulted in 5% fuel savings. [5]

Main source

[1] Boer, E. den., et al. (2010): Speed limiters for vans in Europe - Environmental and safety impacts, Delft: CE Delft
[2] SafetyNet (2009): Cost-benefit analysis, Brussels: Directorate-General Transport and Energy
[3] Global Road Safety Partnership (2008): Speed Management - A road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners, Geneva: Publications of GRSP
[4] European Federation for Transport and Environment (2005): Road transport speed and climate change, Brussels: Transport & Environment
[5] European Transport Safety Council (2008): Managing Speed - Towards safe and sustainable road transport, Brussels: European Transport Safety Council
[6] Anable, J. Mitchell, P. Layberry, R. (2006): Getting the genie back in the bottle: Limiting speed to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the shift to low carbon vehicles, London: Lowcvp
[7] European Federation for Transport and Environment (2009): Emission performance standards for light commercial vehicles (LCVs), Brussels: Transport and Environment
[8] SWOV (2009): SWOV Fact Sheet - Lorries and delivery vans, Leidschendam: Institute for Road Safety Research
[9] Verbeek, M.M.J.F., et al. (2010): Potential CO2 reduction from optimal engine sizing for light commercial vehicles, Eindhoven: TNO
[10] European Commission (2010): Progress report on implementation of the Community’s integrated approach to reduce CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, COM(2010) 656 final, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union
[11] European Transport Safety Council (2011): “PRAISE”: Preventing Road Accidents and Injuries for the Safety of Employees, Brussels: European Transport Safety Council
[12] European Commission (2006): IMPROVER - Impact Assessment of Road Safety Measures for Vehicles and Road Equipment, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union

Traffic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Travel or transport time

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Risk of congestion

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Vehicle mileage

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Service and comfort

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- Longer travel time due to limited speeds for LCVs. On the other hand, shorter travel time due to less congestion. [1]
- Reduced risk of congestion due to fewer accidents. A more homogeneous traffic flow on motorways depends on the speed limit of other road users (passenger cars, trucks and coaches), as growing maximum speed differences between road users may hamper the traffic flow. The net effect concerning the more homogeneous traffic flow is still unknown. [1]

Quantification of impacts


Economic Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Transport costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Private income / commercial turn over

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Revenues in the transport sector

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sectoral competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spatial competitiveness

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Housing expenditures

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Insurance costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Health service costs

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public authorities & adm. burdens on businesses

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Public income (e.g.: taxes, charges)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Third countries and international relations

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

- The transport costs will increase due to longer travel time, but the fuel and maintenance costs for LCVs will decrease due to the lower top speeds. The cost-benefit ratio for a reduced speed limit for LCVs turned out to be positive (see quantification of impacts). The exact change in transport costs is unknown, but the positive cost-benefit ratio seems to prove that costs for transport operators will certainly not rise. [2] [3]
- Reduced speeds for LCVs improves road safety for all road users (including slow modes). This will lead to less accidents and reduced health service costs for road users, residents and society. [2] [3]
- Benefits for transport operators are: fewer vehicles off the road for repair (due to accidents or high engine loads (meaning how many engine power is used)), less chance of employees being involved in accidents or getting injuried; improved image of transport operators using LCVs (greener image and less often involved in accidents). [11]
-3rd level impact: If LCVs transport time will increase due to speed limitation, then this could be advantageous to other transport modes (those in competition).

Quantification of impacts

- Countries with a good safety record, such as Norway, Great Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands, assign a high monetary value to the prevention of a traffic fatality (when using a cost-benefit analysis). [2]
- The IMPROVER study concluded that the benefits of reduced speed limits for LCVs outweigh the costs with a factor of 1.65 for the existing vehicle fleet. [2]
- The total costs of ownership for LCVs will be reduced by up to 12 % when top speeds will be limited. The cost reduction will be attributable to the fuel consumption reduction, the reduction in the costs of purchase (less powerfull engine needed), the decreasing maintenance costs and lower taxes. [9]

Social Impacts
Environmental Impacts

Passengers 

         

Transport operators 

           

Unassigned 

         

Air pollutants

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Noise emissions

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visual quality of the landscape

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Land use

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Climate

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Renewable or non-renewable resources

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Overall impacts on social groups

Implementation phase

Operation phase

Summary / comments concerning the main impacts

Lower maximum speeds for LCVs will lead to several positive impacts for the environment, such as:- Reducing air pollution (mainly NOx, but also PM10) through lower engine loads of LCVs. This will be beneficial for the entire society and for especially for residents living near motorways. [4]
- Noise will decline through lower speeds and less congestion [5]. Again, this counts mostly for residents near motorways.
- CO2 emissions will reduce with the introduction of speed limits for LCVs which is desirable for the entire society and in accordance with the EU policy to reduce C02 emissions by 20% in 2020. [6]
- Fuel consumption of LCVs will decline with the introduction of speed limitation devices. Especially because driven speeds on motorways are above the optimum level for fuel efficiency. [6]
- In addition, the potential indirect effects of speed limitation devices lead to even more significant CO2 reductions. For example, lower top speeds and their resulting safety benefits incentivise the market for lighter and less powerful LCVs. This potential development reduces significant additional carbon savings in the long run. [6]
- Indirect effect: Decline of additional land-use due to lower demand for new road infrastructure based on higher road capacities.

Quantification of impacts

- Practical experiments in the Netherlands showed that speed limiters (limited to 110 km/h) in vans and light trucks resulted in 5% fuel savings. [5]
- A study in the UK showed that a new 60mph (96 km/h) speed limit will reduce CO2 emissions by an average of 1.88 million tonnes of carbon per year. [6]
- Decreasing speed limits around Rotterdam (NL) from 100 to 80 km/h gave a 25 % reduction in NOX emissions from traffic. [4]
- When the speed limit will be reduced to 100 km/h on motorways the CO2 emissions of LCVs will be reduced by 6 to 7 %. [1]

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