CONTENTS

1. Legislative provisions

1.1. Name of Legislative Instrument

1.1.1. This instrument is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 43/04 – Vehicle Configuration and Dimensions) 2006 Amendment 3

1.2. Commencement

1.2.1. This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.

2. Amendment of vehicle standard

2.1. The changes specified in Schedule 1 amend Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 43/04 – Vehicle Configuration and Dimensions) 2006.

Schedule 1

[1] Amend Clause 1.1 to read:

“1.1. NAME OF STANDARD”

[2] Amend Clause 3. to read:

“…

3.1.1. This vehicle standard applies to the design and construction of vehicles as set out in the Applicability Table in clause 3.2.

3.1.2. Vehicles certified to any of the “Acceptable Prior Rules” as shown in the Applicability Table for a particular vehicle category are deemed to comply with this national standard provided:

3.1.2.1. ‘T-Group’ vehicles meet clause 6.2.1.3. and clause 7.2.1.; and

3.1.2.2. The requirements for ‘Retractable Axles’ are met (where appropriate).

…”

[3] Amend Clause 5. to read:

“5. TURNING CIRCLE

5.1 Every vehicle must have a turning circle in either direction, as determined by reference to the extreme outer edge of the tyre track at ground level, not exceeding 25 metres in diameter.

5.2 All parts of an ‘Articulated Omnibus’ except mirrors and signalling devices must be capable of moving within a circular track having an inner radius of 5.3 metres and an outer radius of 12 metres.”

[4] Amend Clause 6. to read:

“6. DIMENSIONS OF VEHICLES

6.1. Motor vehicles

6.1.1. ‘Total Length’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.1.1.1. The ‘Total Length’ of a motor vehicle, other than an ‘Articulated Omnibus’ must not exceed 12.5 metres.

6.1.1.2. The ‘Total Length’ of an ‘Articulated Omnibus’ must not exceed 18 metres.

6.1.2. ‘Rear Overhang’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.1.2.1. The ‘Rear Overhang’ of any motor vehicle must not exceed 60 percent of the ‘Wheelbase’, or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser.

6.1.3. Height, including any ‘Equipment’

6.1.3.1. The height of any motor vehicle must not exceed 4.3 metres.

6.1.4. ‘Ground Clearance’

6.1.4.1. The ‘Ground Clearance’ of a motor vehicle, other than an L-Group vehicle, measured from a horizontal road surface to any point on the underside of the vehicle except the tyres, wheels and wheel hubs must, under the conditions of ‘Maximum Loaded Test Mass’ loading as specified in the relevant braking rule, be not less than:

6.1.4.1.1. for the mid-point between any 2 consecutive ‘Axles’, the dimension in millimetres obtained by multiplying the distance between those 2 ‘Axles’ in metres by 33.33; and

6.1.4.1.2. for any other point, ‘Ground Clearance’ is such that if the wheels of one ‘Axle’ are on one plane and the wheels on the next consecutive ‘Axle’ are on another plane which intersects the first so that the angle between them is 7 degrees 38 minutes the point will pass over the apex transverse to the vehicle formed by that intersection, as shown in Figure 1.

6.1.4.2. Where an omnibus, when fully laden and at normal ride height, does not meet the ground clearance as determined in 6.1.4.1.1., a device must be fitted to enable the chassis to be lifted sufficiently to meet the ground clearance relative to the wheelbase for manoeuvring purposes only.

6.1.5. ‘Overall Width’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.1.5.1. The ‘Overall Width’ of any motor vehicle (other than an L-Group vehicle) must not exceed 2,500 mm.

6.1.5.2. The ‘Overall Width’ of an L-Group vehicle must be as follows:

6.1.5.2.1. in the case of LA category vehicles, the maximum width must not exceed 1,000 mm;

6.1.5.2.2. in the case of LC category vehicles, the maximum width must not exceed 1,100 mm; and

6.1.5.2.3. in the case of a three wheel vehicle (LB or LE) or a motorcycle with a side car (LD), the maximum width must not exceed 2,000 mm.

6.1.6. ‘Running Clearance’

6.1.6.1. The ‘Running Clearance’ of a motor vehicle, other than an L-Group vehicle, must be not less than 100 mm.

6.2. Trailers

6.2.1. ‘Total Length’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.2.1.1. For a ‘Dog Trailer’:

6.2.1.1.1. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the line from which the ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured must not exceed 9.5 metres; and

6.2.1.1.2. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the ‘Rear End’ must not exceed 12.3 metres.

6.2.1.2. For a ‘Semi-trailer’:

6.2.1.2.1. the forward projection from the ‘Point of Articulation’ must be contained within a radius of 1.9 metres;

6.2.1.2.2. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the line from which the ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured must not exceed 9.5 metres; and

6.2.1.2.3. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the ‘Rear End’ must not exceed 13.2 metres, except that:

6.2.1.2.3.1. for a ‘Semi-trailer’ designed for use in a ‘Road Train’ or ‘B-Double’, the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the ‘Rear End’ must not exceed 12.3 metres.

6.2.1.2.4. Despite clauses 6.2.1.2.2 and 6.2.1.2.3, for a ‘Semi-trailer’ designed and constructed for the positive control of temperature through the use of refrigerated equipment (a refrigerated trailer) and not designed for use in a ‘Road Train’ or ‘B-Double’:

6.2.1.2.4.1. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the line from which the ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured must not exceed 9.9 metres; and

6.2.1.2.4.2. the distance from the ‘Point of Articulation’ to the ‘Rear End’ must not exceed 13.6 metres.

6.2.1.3. The length available for the carriage of animals on a ‘Livestock Trailer’ must not be more than 12.5 metres when measured from the inside of the front wall or door of the trailer to the inside of the rear wall or door of the trailer (as the case may be), and any intervening partition must be disregarded.

6.2.2. ‘Drawbar Length’

6.2.2.1. For a ‘Pig Trailer’, the ‘Drawbar Length’ must not exceed 8.5 metres, except that:

6.2.2.1.1. for a ‘Converter Dolly’, the ‘Drawbar Length’ must not exceed 5.0 metres.

6.2.2.2. for a ‘Dog Trailer’, the ‘Drawbar Length’ must not exceed 5.0 metres.

6.2.3. ‘Rear Overhang’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.2.3.1. For a ‘Pig Trailer’, the ‘Rear Overhang’ must not exceed the length of the load space forward of the line from which ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured, or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser.

6.2.3.2. For a ‘Dog Trailer’, the ‘Rear Overhang’ must not exceed 60 percent of the ‘Wheelbase’, or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser.

6.2.3.3. For a ‘Semi-trailer’, the ‘Rear Overhang’ must not exceed 60 percent of the distance between the ‘Point of Articulation’ and the line from which the ‘Rear Overhang’ is measured, or 3.7 metres, whichever is the lesser.

6.2.4. Height, including any ‘Equipment’

6.2.4.1. The height of any trailer, other than a ‘Livestock Trailer’, must not exceed 4.3 metres.

6.2.4.2. The height of a ‘Livestock Trailer’ must not exceed 4.6 metres.

6.2.5. ‘Ground Clearance’

6.2.5.1. The ‘Ground Clearance’ of a trailer, measured from a horizontal road surface to any point on the underside of the vehicle except the tyres, wheels and wheel hubs must, under the conditions of ‘Maximum Loaded Test Mass’ loading as specified in the relevant braking rule, be not less than:

6.2.5.1.1. for the mid-point between any 2 consecutive ‘Axles’, the dimension in millimetres obtained by multiplying the distance between those 2 ‘Axles’ in metres by 33.33; and

6.2.5.1.2. for any other point, ‘Ground Clearance’ is such that if the wheels of one ‘Axle’ are on one plane and the wheels on the next consecutive ‘Axle’ are on another plane which intersects the first so that the angle between them is 7 degrees 38 minutes the point will pass over the apex transverse to the vehicle formed by that intersection, as shown in Figure 1.

6.2.6. ‘Overall Width’, including any ‘Equipment’

6.2.6.1. The ‘Overall Width’ of any trailer must not exceed 2,500 mm.

6.2.7. ‘Running Clearance’

6.2.7.1. The ‘Running Clearance’ of a trailer must be not less than 100 mm.”

[5] Delete Clause 7.1.

[6] Renumber Clauses 7.2 to 7.4.2. as Clauses 7.1 to 7.3.2. respectively.

[7] Amend Clause 9.4. to read:

“9.4. A vehicle fitted with a ‘Retractable Axle’ must, in all ‘Configurations’, comply with all relevant requirements of clause 6.”

[8] Delete Clause 9.5.