Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1

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

Legislation au F2017L01203 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1

 

 

 

 

Made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Statement

 

 

 

 

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Urban Infrastructure

 

 

 

 

 

August 2017

 

 


CONTENTS

 

1. legislative context

2. content and effect of ADR 31/03 and the Amendment

2.1. Overview of the ADR

2.2. Effect of the ADR

3. best practice regulation

3.1. Benefits and Costs

3.2. General Consultation Arrangements

3.3. Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard

4. STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

4.1. Overview of the Legislative Instrument

4.2. Human Rights Implications

4.3. Conclusion


  1. LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1 is made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 (the Act).  The Act enables the Australian Government to establish nationally uniform standards that apply to new 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 imported.

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".

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 (ADR 31/03) was originally determined in 2013 and has not been amended.

2.                       CONTENT AND EFFECT OF ADR 31/03 AND THE AMENDMENT

2.1.                 Overview of the ADR

This vehicle standard prescribes braking system requirements for passenger cars.  The standard also contains provisions for some other light passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles.  The function of the standard is to ensure safe braking under normal and emergency conditions.

2.2.                 Effect of the ADR

This amendment implements transition arrangements from this vehicle standard to a later vehicle standard.  Under these arrangements, compliance to the new standard ADR 31/04 exempts a manufacturer from having to comply with ADR 31/03.

This change does not affect the original intent of the standard but is essential to allow its correct operation in conjunction with ADR 31/04.

3.                       BEST PRACTICE REGULATION

3.1.                 Benefits and Costs

There is no expected increase in cost to manufacturers, as the proposed amendments do not affect the requirements of the ADR.

3.2.                 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 Commonwealth 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), Strategic Vehicle Safety and Environment Group (SVSEG), Transport and Infrastructure Senior Officials’ Committee (TISOC) and the Transport and Infrastructure Council (the Council).

  • TLG consists of technical 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).
  • SVSEG consists of senior representatives of government (Australian and state/territory), the manufacturing and operational arms of the industry and of representative organisations of consumers and road users (at a higher level within each organisation as represented in TLG).
  • TISOC consists of state and territory transport and/or infrastructure Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) (or equivalents), the CEO of the National Transport Commission, New Zealand and the Australian Local Government Association.
  • The Council consists of the Australian, state/territory and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for transport and infrastructure issues.

Editorial changes and changes to correct errors are processed by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.  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 RIS meeting the requirements of the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) as published in the Australian Government Guide to Regulation and the Council of Australian Governments Best Practice Regulation: A Guide for Ministerial Councils and National Standard Setting Bodies.

3.3.                 Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard

This amendment is related to the introduction of ADR 31/04.  As it is minor in nature, and does not affect the requirements of the ADR, further consultation was not considered necessary and so not carried out.

As the amendment is purely administrative in nature and does not increase the stringency of the ADR, a RIS is not required.


4.                       STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS

The following Statement is prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

4.1.                 Overview of the Legislative Instrument

This amendment allows for a transition between ADR 31/03 and the later version ADR 31/04.  It does not affect the original intent or operation of the standard.

4.2.                 Human Rights Implications

This amendment to ADR 31/03 does not engage any of the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

4.3.                 Conclusion

This amendment to ADR 31/03 is compatible with human rights, as it does not raise any human rights issues.

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1, enacted in 2017 under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, was introduced to facilitate a seamless transition between the existing ADR 31/03 and the subsequent ADR 31/04, ensuring that compliance with the new standard exempts manufacturers from adhering to the older one. This amendment was crafted by the Australian Government to maintain the integrity and purpose of the original standard while enabling its effective operation in conjunction with the newer regulation. The amendment was developed through extensive consultations with relevant industry and consumer groups, ensuring that it aligns with best practice regulation principles and does not impose additional costs on manufacturers. The policy objective of this amendment is to maintain safety standards without introducing new regulatory burdens. By allowing manufacturers to transition smoothly from ADR 31/03 to ADR 31/04, the amendment supports the overarching goal of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, which is to establish nationally uniform safety standards for road vehicles. The compatibility of this amendment with human rights has been affirmed, as it does not engage any of the human rights and freedoms recognised under international instruments.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1 is a regulatory measure made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, which empowers the Australian Government to establish uniform standards for new road vehicles supplied in Australia, irrespective of whether they are manufactured domestically or imported. This amendment applies to passenger cars, as well as some other light passenger and light commercial vehicles, focusing on ensuring their braking systems meet safety standards under both normal and emergency conditions. The amendment introduces transition arrangements from the original ADR 31/03 to the subsequent ADR 31/04, allowing manufacturers to comply with the newer standard without needing to adhere to the older one. This transition is administrative and does not affect the original safety requirements or increase costs to manufacturers. Consultation with industry stakeholders and governmental bodies was conducted during the original determination of ADR 31/03, but no further consultation was deemed necessary for this amendment due to its minor nature. The amendment is compatible with human rights, as it does not engage any rights or freedoms under the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 31/03 – Brake Systems for Passenger Cars) 2013 Amendment 1, enacted under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, serves to facilitate the transition from the original ADR 31/03 to the newer ADR 31/04, ensuring the smooth integration of the two standards. This amendment does not alter the original intent or operational requirements of ADR 31/03 but is crucial for the correct functioning of the newer standard, ADR 31/04. It allows manufacturers to comply with the new standard (ADR 31/04) while being exempt from the older one (ADR 31/03), thus streamlining compliance efforts. The Act imposes specific obligations on vehicle manufacturers to ensure that passenger cars, and to some extent other light vehicles, adhere to the prescribed braking system standards set out in ADR 31/03. These standards are designed to ensure the safety of vehicles under both normal and emergency braking conditions. The Act also mandates that manufacturers comply with the transition arrangements detailed in the Amendment, ensuring that the shift to ADR 31/04 does not disrupt the safety and regulatory framework for vehicle braking systems. Compliance with these standards is essential for vehicles to be legally supplied in the Australian market. The Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 does not explicitly outline specific offences or penalties for non-compliance with the vehicle standards in the ADR 31/03 Amendment 1. However, non-compliance with the overarching Motor Vehicle Standards Act can result in significant legal consequences. Offences under this Act may lead to penalties such as fines, enforcement actions, and potential recalls of non-compliant vehicles. The severity of these penalties can vary depending on the nature and extent of the non-compliance, but they are intended to ensure that all road vehicles meet the necessary safety and performance standards to protect public safety.

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