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Three provinces, Ontario, Quebec, and as of April 2024, British Columbia require certain vehicles traveling in or through those provinces to have their speed limiters set to no more than 105 kilometers/hour (65 miles per hour).
No other Canadian jurisdictions have speed limiter requirements.
Scope
The requirements in both provinces apply to all commercial vehicles manufactured after 1995 with a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 kilograms (26,000 pounds). “All commercial vehicles” includes vehicles operated into Ontario, Quebec or BC from other provinces and/or the U.S. There are no exemptions for U.S.-based carriers operating vehicles into Ontario , Quebec or British Columbia (BC).
The following types of vehicles are generally exempt from the requirements:
- Buses;
- Vehicles with a manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating under 11,794 kilograms;
- Vehicles used for personal purposes; and
- Emergency vehicles.
Regulatory citations
- Jurisdictional citations for speeding infractions
- Jurisdictional citations for speed limiter non-compliance
Key definitions
- Speed limiter: A speed limiter isn’t a device, but rather a setting within the engine’s electronic control module to limit the vehicle’s speed to a speed set by the user.
Summary of requirements
Pros/cons. Speed limiter legislation is a hotly debated topic. Proponents of the legislation believe that keeping commercial vehicles at speeds of 105 kilometers per hour will help improve road safety by reducing speeding, reducing/preventing accidents, and reducing the severity of accidents should they occur. Proponents also maintain that by reducing or limiting a commercial vehicle’s speed, the amount of fuel burned is reduced and ultimately fewer greenhouse gases are emitted.
Speed limiter opponents believe that speed limiters can actually contribute to accidents because the driver may be traveling much slower than the flow of traffic. In addition, opponents believe that limiting truck speeds may contribute to traffic congestion, thereby increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Enforcement. Both Ontario, Quebec and BC are enforcing the speed limiter rule by radar enforcement and by checking engine settings at roadside. Inspectors may use a hand-held device that they can plug into the engine control module to view the settings.