Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 – Instrument Panel) 2006 Amendment 1

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

Legislation au F2008L01056 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 – Instrument Panel) 2006

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 2008

 

 

CONTENTS

 

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

2. content and effect of ADR 21/00 - Instrument Panel......................

3. consulation......................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.                        legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 — Instrument Panel) 2006 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".

  1.                        content and effect of ADR 21/00 - Instrument Panel
    1.                  Overview of the ADR

The function of this Australian Design Rule is to specify requirements for the instrument panel to reduce its injury potential to occupants on impact.

  1.                  Changes to the ADR

The following changes have been made to the ADR:

 

The inclusion of Appendix A, the technical provisions of the standard as adopted by the United Nations Economic Community of Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 21 – Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with Regard to their Interior Fittings. 

 

The acceptance of UNECE R 21/01 as an alternative standard.

 

The inclusion of Appendix B, provisions for the Australian Standard.

  1.                  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 indicates where it is referenced.

  • Australian Design Rules can be purchased on CD-ROM from the Department of Transport and Regional Services or can be downloaded from http://www.dotars.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_online.aspx.
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  • Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards can be obtained from the US Department of Transport, http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
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  • UNECE Regulations are available from their website, http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs.html.
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  • Society of Automotive Engineers documents can be purchased from their website http://www.sae.org.

 

  1.                        consulation
    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 (TACE), 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 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.

Editorial changes and changes to correct errors are processed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.  This approach is only used where the amendments do not vary the intent of the vehicle standard.

New standards, or significant changes that increase the stringency of existing standards, are subject to a simple majority vote by ATC Ministers.  Following the vote, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government may then determine the new or amended standards.  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. 

  1.                  Regulation Impact Statement

See attached.

 

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 – Instrument Panel) 2006 was enacted under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, aimed at addressing the need for nationally uniform standards for road vehicles in Australia, whether manufactured domestically or imported. The Act empowers the Minister to establish these standards, ensuring safety and performance consistency across the industry. This legislative instrument introduces specific requirements for the instrument panel to mitigate injury potential for vehicle occupants during impacts. The changes to the Australian Design Rule include the adoption of technical provisions from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 21 and the acceptance of UNECE R 21/01 as an alternative standard. These amendments align Australian vehicle standards with international safety benchmarks. Extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including industry representatives, consumer groups, and government bodies, was undertaken to ensure the practical and effective implementation of these standards. The process involved collaboration among entities such as the Technical Liaison Group, Transport Agencies Chief Executives, and the Australian Transport Council, ensuring a comprehensive approach to vehicle safety regulation.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 – Instrument Panel) 2006 applies to road vehicles, including both new and second-hand vehicles, whether they are manufactured in Australia or imported. The Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, under which this rule is made, empowers the Minister to establish nationally uniform standards for road vehicles. The Act ensures that vehicles meet specific safety requirements before they are supplied to the market, thereby aiming to reduce the injury potential to occupants in the event of a collision. This rule specifically targets the instrument panel of vehicles to mitigate injuries on impact. Additionally, the rule incorporates international standards such as UNECE Regulation No. 21, offering flexibility by accepting alternative standards. The legislative process includes extensive consultation with various stakeholders, including government bodies, industry representatives, and consumer groups, ensuring that proposed changes are thoroughly vetted and considered.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 21/00 – Instrument Panel) 2006 (ADR 21/00) outline the requirements for the instrument panel to reduce its injury potential to occupants on impact (section 1). This includes adopting the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulation No. 21 – Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with Regard to their Interior Fittings, or accepting UNECE R 21/01 as an alternative standard (section 2). The ADR also incorporates the Australian Standard by including provisions in Appendix B (section 2). The standard is made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (section 1), which empowers the Minister to determine vehicle standards for road vehicles or vehicle components (section 7). The ADR 21/00 imposes obligations on parties involved in the design, manufacture, and supply of vehicles and vehicle components in Australia. Manufacturers and importers must ensure that the instrument panels in their vehicles comply with the requirements of ADR 21/00. This includes adhering to the technical provisions set out in the UNECE Regulation No. 21 or UNECE R 21/01, as applicable, and the Australian Standard provisions in Appendix B. Suppliers of components must ensure that the components they supply meet these standards before being installed in vehicles. Failure to comply with the requirements of ADR 21/00 can result in civil and criminal consequences. Under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, non-compliance can lead to penalties for individuals and corporations. The maximum penalty for an individual is generally a fine of up to $21,000, while for a corporation, the penalty can be significantly higher, reaching up to $1,050,000. Additionally, non-compliance can result in the prohibition of the importation or supply of non-compliant vehicles or components, and in severe cases, prosecution under criminal law. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the standards to ensure road safety and protect vehicle occupants.

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Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Consultation Requirements
Compliance Obligations

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