Use of speed limiters on parts of certain bus routes
Request ID: FOI-3072-2324 Date published: 08 December 2023
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
Please can you provide information which shows:
1. Which of the following bus routes have buses with speed limiters?
2. Which parts of each route the bus limiter is used?
3. The maximum speed of travel of a bus with a speed limiter turned on?
The bus routes for which I wish to be sent the information above are the 285, the 111, the SL7, the 281, the 481, the R68 and the 33. The request includes night buses.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-3072-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 27th November 2023 asking for information about the use of speed limiters on certain bus routes.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. Your questions are answered in turn below:
The bus routes for which I wish to be sent the information are the 285, the 111, the SL7, the 281, the 481, the R68 and the 33. The request includes night buses.
Question 1. Which of the following bus routes have buses with speed limiters?
Answer: We do not hold route-level data on which routes have buses fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA). This is because vehicles are sometimes used on different routes according to operational requirements, and therefore routes are currently serviced by a mix of ISA-equipped and non-ISA-equipped vehicles.
Question 2. Which parts of each route the bus limiter is used?
Answer: Where a vehicle has ISA technology installed, the system is in use on all sections of its route and at all times during the vehicle’s operation.
Question 3. The maximum speed of travel of a bus with a speed limiter turned on?
Answer: Where a vehicle has ISA fitted, its maximum speed will be restricted to the speed limit for the road it is travelling on. The maximum speed of the vehicle therefore changes as the vehicle moves between locations with different speed limits.
If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
