Tachograph & Speed Limiter Management for Road Safety

Apr 19

At Argent Equipment Ltd, we offer a wide range of commercial vehicle testing to customers across Dublin. In addition, we’re also the trusted choice for tachograph installation and calibration, and we touch upon this aspect of our services.

Here, we examine tachograph and speed limiter management and how they help to keep Ireland’s roads safer for all motorists.

Why Are Tachographs & Speed Limiters Important?

These devices play a vital role in keeping Irish roads safe in that tachographs ensure commercial driver hour rules are adhered to, and speed limiters prevent excessive speeds. As such, commercial vehicle operators have certain obligations in terms of ensuring their vehicles and those that drive them abide by the law.

Tachograph Management

When it comes to tachographs, commercial fleet operators must make sure that all of their vehicles are equipped with a working device. Other responsibilities include ensuring:

These tachographs are regularly calibrated to maintain accuracy and compliance.
Tachograph data is regularly downloaded and analysed to monitor driver compliance with driver hour rules in Ireland.
Accurate recording keeping of historical tachograph data for regulatory compliance.
Regular checking of driver licensing to ensure they’re trained for their current duties.
Training is provided to drivers on tachograph usage and compliance.
Tachograph data is submitted to regulatory authorities when requested.
Control measures are in place to address drivers not complying with rules.

Speed Limiter Management

Similar obligations apply in regard to speed limiter management, with commercial vehicle operators having a duty to ensure that:

All their commercial vehicles are fitted with speed limiters set to legal requirements.
These speed limiters are regularly calibrated to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Training is provided on compliant use and the importance of adhering to speed limits.
Appropriate action is taken against any driver found to be bypassing or tampering with speed limiter equipment.

New EU legislation for Tachographs

This new version 2 smart tachograph is to be fitted to new vehicles first registered since August 2023 and retrofitted to vehicles operating internationally from the following dates:

• 31 December 2024 for vehicles equipped with an analogue or digital non-smart tachograph (vehicles typically first registered prior to 14th June 2019).

• 18 August 2025 for vehicles equipped with a smart version 1 tachograph unit (vehicles typically first registered between 15th June 2019 and 20th August 2023).

• 1 July 2026 for light commercial vehicles and vans with a gross vehicle weight of more than 2.5 tons.

Vehicles operating internationally include those travelling to, through or from the United Kingdom (this includes Northern Ireland) and are therefore required to comply with the tachograph installation requirements from the specified dates above.

It is estimated that approximately 25,000 – 30,000 operators could be affected for the first two retrofit periods (31 December 2024 and 18 August 2025).

Taking Care of Your Tachograph Installation & Calibration Needs

As we can see, commercial drivers and operators have a road safety responsibility under Irish law in relation to tachographs and how they're used and managed. The good news is that the Argent team is here to help you meet all your needs, whether talking about tachograph calibration or installation.

If you’d like to know more about what's involved or learn about our full range of vehicle testing services, take a moment to our explore our website. However, if you'd like to book your vehicle in, simply click on 'book' now or give our team a call on 01 572 6500.