Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/02 – Steering Column) 2008 Amendment 1

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2010L01470 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/0210/02 – Steering ColumnSteering Column) 20082008 Amendment 1

 

 

 

Made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2010May 2010

 

 

CONTENTS

 

1. legislative context................................................

2. content and effect of ADR 10/02 - Steering Column Amendment 1..........

2.1. Overview of the ADR.............................................

2.2. Changes to the ADR..............................................

2.3. Documents Incorporated by Reference................................

3. consultation arrangements..........................................

3.1. General Consultation Arrangements..................................

3.2. Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard.............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1. legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/02 — Steering Column) 2008 is made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act).  The Act enables the Australian Government to establish nationally uniform standards for road vehicles when they are first supplied to the market in Australia.  The Act applies to such vehicles whether they are manufactured in Australia or are imported as new or second hand vehicles.

The making of the vehicle standards necessary for the Act's effective operation is provided for in section 7 which empowers the Minister to "determine vehicle standards for road vehicles or vehicle components".

2.                       content and effect of ADR 10/02 - Steering Column Amendment 1

2.1.                 Overview of the ADR

ADR 10 provides requirements for vehicle steering columns to reduce occupant injury in a crash due to the driver impacting on the steering column, or the steering column impacting on the driver.

2.2.                 Changes to the ADR

ADR 10/02 replaces ADR 10/01 and was determined on 26 June 2008.  New models have had to comply with ADR 10/02 from 1 January 2010 and all new vehicles of existing models will have to comply from 1 June 2010.   ADR 10/02 does not differ greatly from ADR 10/01 and the main reason for adopting the new ADR 10/02 was that it is in keeping with the program of harmonisation with the international regulations adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, rather than providing for safety gains.  Whatever safety gains there were, were very largely realised through the first applicability date.

 

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries have requested the second applicability date for new vehicles of existing models to be removed from the standard on the basis that the light vehicle industry turned over its model range in response to market forces which meant that most models have a short life span.  Therefore, the lack of an applicability date for new vehicles of existing model would have little effect on the application of new or amended ADRs to the light vehicle fleet.

The Vehicle Safety Standards database shows that only seven existing models would be allowed to continue to comply with the older standard and these are produced in small numbers of no more than 25 production units per year.  If industry was forced to comply with ADR 10/02, there would be additional costs to re-certify for no net gain in safety.

This proposed amendment is being made to remove the mandatory 1 June 2010 application date for all new vehicles of existing models. This means that existing models may continue to comply with the earlier ADR 10/01. 

The argument for having no end date for existing vehicle models is that the change to the standard is based on harmonisation with an international standard and this only has an effect on a very small number of existing low volume models. Therefore, the transition could be managed by the natural change-over to new models in the future.

2.3.                 Documents Incorporated by Reference

This section lists documents referenced in the vehicle standard and how they can be obtained.  The parentheses after the document title indicate where it is referenced.

  • Australian Design Rules are available from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government or can be downloaded from http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx.  
    • Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories)
    • ADRs 69/… and 73/…
  • UNECE Regulations are available from their website, http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs.html.
    • Regulation No 12

3.                       consultation arrangements

3.1.                 General Consultation Arrangements

It has been longstanding practice to consult widely on proposed new or amended vehicle standards.  For many years there has been active collaboration between the Federal and the State/Territory Governments, as well as consultation with industry and consumer groups.  Much of the consultation takes place within institutional arrangements established for this purpose.  The analysis and documentation prepared in a particular case, and the bodies consulted, depend on the degree of impact the new or amended standard is expected to have on industry or road users.

Depending on the nature of the proposed changes, consultation could involve the Technical Liaison Group (TLG), Transport Agencies Chief Executives/Standing Committee on Transport (TACE/SCOT), and the Australian Transport Council (ATC).

  • TLG consists of representatives of government (Australian and State/Territory), the manufacturing and operational arms of the industry (including organisations such as the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Australian Trucking Association) and of representative organisations of consumers and road users (particularly through the Australian Automobile Association).
  • TACE/SCOT consists of the chief executives of Australian and State/Territory departments of transport and road vehicle administrations.
  • ATC consists of the Australian, state/territory and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for transport issues.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government processes editorial changes and changes to correct errors without reference to other agencies.  This approach is only used where the amendments do not vary the intent of the vehicle standard.

Proposals that are regarded as significant need to be supported by a Regulation Impact Statement meeting the requirements of the Office of Best Practice Regulation as published in Best Practice Regulation Handbook and the Council of Australian Governments Principles and Guidelines for National Standard Setting and Regulatory Action for Ministerial Councils and Standard-Setting Bodies. 

3.2.                 Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard

The amendment proposal was reviewed and unanimously endorsed by the Technical Liaison Group.  This amendment is considered minor as it does not vary the intent of the vehicle standard and so a Regulation Impact Statement was not required (OBPR Reference No. 11263).

 

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/02 – Steering Column) 2008 Amendment 1, enacted under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, aims to update the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 10/02 concerning steering column requirements for road vehicles. This amendment responds to industry feedback regarding the applicability date for new vehicles of existing models. The Act, enacted by the Australian Parliament, provides the framework for setting uniform vehicle standards to ensure road safety across the nation. The primary policy objective of the Act is to reduce occupant injury in a crash by establishing rigorous standards for vehicle components, including steering columns. The amendment, made in May 2010, removes the mandatory application date for new vehicles of existing models, allowing them to continue complying with the previous standard, ADR 10/01. This decision was based on industry submissions highlighting the minimal safety gains from the change and the potential additional costs for re-certification, particularly for low-volume existing models.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/02 – Steering Column) 2008 Amendment 1, made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, applies to road vehicles supplied in Australia, whether manufactured domestically or imported. This standard is designed to reduce occupant injury in a crash by setting requirements for vehicle steering columns. The Act provides a legislative framework for establishing nationally uniform standards for vehicles, ensuring that all new models and vehicles comply with the latest safety regulations from the specified dates. The amendment removes the applicability date for new vehicles of existing models, allowing them to continue complying with the previous standard, ADR 10/01, due to minimal safety gains and potential additional costs for re-certification. This change is in line with the international standards adopted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The amendment does not alter the fundamental intent of the vehicle standard and was endorsed by the Technical Liaison Group, which consists of representatives from government, industry, and consumer groups, indicating a collaborative approach in standard setting.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 10/02 - Steering Column) 2008 Amendment 1 is a regulation under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act). This legislation mandates uniform standards for road vehicles and components sold in Australia. Section 7 of the Act empowers the Minister to establish these standards, which apply to both domestically manufactured vehicles and those imported into Australia. ADR 10/02, which is incorporated into this standard, specifies the requirements for vehicle steering columns, aimed at reducing occupant injury during a crash. The amendment removes the applicability date for new vehicles of existing models, allowing them to continue to comply with the previous ADR 10/01. The amendment was made to align with international regulations and considers the small number of existing models that would be affected. The Act imposes several obligations on parties involved. Manufacturers must ensure that new models comply with ADR 10/02 from 1 January 2010. For new vehicles of existing models, the requirement to comply with ADR 10/02 has been removed, allowing these models to continue meeting the standards of ADR 10/01. Importers are also required to ensure that imported vehicles meet the relevant Australian Design Rules. Additionally, the Act mandates that all vehicles and vehicle components sold in Australia comply with the prescribed standards to ensure safety and uniformity across the market. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 or the standards set out in ADR 10/02 could result in legal consequences. Under section 27 of the Act, non-compliance with the Act or the standards can lead to civil penalties. The penalties for selling non-compliant vehicles or components can be severe, including fines and potential imprisonment. Specifically, section 27(1) states that an individual who contravenes the Act or a vehicle standard may be liable to a fine of up to $22,200 for an individual and up to $111,000 for a body corporate. The severity of the penalty depends on the nature and extent of the contravention, and the courts have discretion in imposing fines. Additionally, under section 27(2), a person who sells a non-compliant vehicle may face imprisonment for up to two years. These provisions underscore the importance of adhering to the standards to ensure road safety and compliance with Australian regulations.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.