Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006

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

Legislation au F2006L02685 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006

 

 

 

Made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Transport and

Regional Service

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2006

 

CONTENTS

 

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

2. impact of the legislative instruments act 2003...........................

3. content and effect of ADR 5/03 - Anchorages for Seatbelts................

4. consultation arrangements..........................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.                        legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 — Anchorages for Seatbelts) 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".

Australian Design Rule (ADR) 5/03 was originally determined in Road Vehicle (National Standards) Determination 4 of 1994 and has not been amended in subsequent determinations.  ADR 5/03 is being remade to comply with the requirements of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (LIA) and to enable its registration in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.  The remaking of ADR 5/03 has not altered the substance of the standard as last determined.

  1.                        impact of the legislative instruments act 2003

Until now ADRs have been determined in “packages”, that is, a single determination will create, amend and repeal multiple ADRs.  In example, Determination 1 of 1991 amended 32 ADRs and Determination 2 of 2003 created one new ADR and amended 13.  The determination is the legislative instrument, not the ADR itself.

 

The intent of the LIA is to allow easy access to all legislative instruments and to be able to track their history and changes.  The current form of determination used to created vehicle standards does not allow for this as it is difficult to isolate the change history of individual ADRs and the legislative instruments (the determinations) do not contain the information of importance to those using the ADRs – the vehicle standards.

 

In consultation with the Attorney General’s Department it has been agreed that the most effective solution is to remake each ADR as a separate vehicle standard determined under section 7 of the Act.  In doing this, there is no need to backcapture the old determinations and the new layout better fits the intent of the LIA.  With each ADR as a separate vehicle standard it will be possible for interested parties to view the ADR and its change history on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

  1.                        content and effect of ADR 5/03 - Anchorages for Seatbelts
    1.                  Overview of the ADR

The function of this vehicle standard is to specify requirements for anchorages for seatbelt assemblies so that they may be adequately secured to the vehicle structure or seat and will meet comfort requirements in use.

 


  1.                  Changes to the ADR

The following changes have been made to the ADR:

  • Format.  The ADR is now presented as a single column of text rather than two columns.
  • Spelling and grammar.  Several typographical errors have been corrected.
  • Replace clause 1 with the following.

“1. Legislative provisions

1.1. NAME OF STANDARD

1.1.1. This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006.

1.1.2. This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 5/03 — Anchorages for Seatbelts.

1.2. COMMENCEMENT

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

1.3. REPEAL

1.3.1. This Standard repeals each vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 5/03 — Anchorages for Seatbelts that is:

(a) made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989; and

(b) in force at the commencement of this Standard.

1.3.2. This Standard also repeals each instrument made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 that creates a vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 5/03 — Anchorages for Seatbelts, if there are no other vehicle standards created by that instrument, or amendments to vehicle standards made by that instrument, that are still in force at the commencement of this Standard. “

  • Replace the text of the Definitions clause with “Refer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005.”

 

The text of clause 1 has been provided by the Attorney General’s Department to facilitate remaking each ADR as a separate legislative instrument.  This text repeals and replaces each ADR as a vehicle standard independently of the Determination under which it was made.  Once all ADRs made under a particular Determination have been remade, that Determination is repealed. 

 

Changes to clause 4.1 have been made to reference the ADR Definitions and Vehicle Categories as remade for the LIA requirements.


  1.                  Documents Incorporated by Reference

This section lists documents referenced in the vehicle standard and how they can be obtained.

 

  • Australian Design Rules can be purchased on CD-ROM from the Department of Transport and Regional Services.  As the ADRs are remade, they will also be available at http://www.comlaw.gov.au.
    • Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule – Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005 (s4.1)
    • ADR 68/00 – Occupant Protection in Buses (s3.1.2)
  • SAI Global can provide both Australian standards and English translations of many international standards.  Their website is accessible at http://www.standards.com.au/catalogue/script/search.asp.
    • Australian Standard E35-1970, “Seat Belt Assemblies for Motor Vehicles” (s6.1.2.2)
    • Australian Standard AS 2597.10 - 1983, “Determination of Static Strength and Dummy Displacement” (s6.1.2.2)
    • Australian Standard 2596-1983, “Seat Belt Assemblies for Motor Vehicles” (s6.1.3)
  • UNECE Regulations are available from their website, http://www.unece.org/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs.html.
    • UNECE R 14/02 - “Safety Belt Anchorages” (s3.1.3)
  1.                        consultation arrangements
    1.                  Specific Consultation Arrangements for this Vehicle Standard

As the changes to this vehicle standard are purely administrative (to comply with the LIA) no public consultation has been undertaken.

 

The Department of Transport and Regional Services has sought advice and assistance from the Office of Legislative Drafting and the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments on how best to handle the backcapture requirements of the LIA.

 

The Office of Regulation Review has agreed that a regulation impact statement is not required as the intent and technical content of the vehicle standard has not changed.

 

 

Overview

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006 is a legislative instrument created under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. This Act allows the Australian Government to set nationally uniform standards for road vehicles supplied to the market in Australia, whether manufactured domestically or imported as new or second-hand vehicles. The purpose of this particular standard is to specify requirements for anchorages for seatbelt assemblies, ensuring they are adequately secured to the vehicle structure or seat and meet comfort requirements in use. This standard was remade to comply with the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 and to enable its registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. The remaking of the standard has not altered its substance but has improved its format and corrected several typographical errors. This change aims to provide better access and clarity to the standards for users, ensuring the legislative instruments can be easily tracked and referenced. The enactment of this standard by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services reflects a policy objective of enhancing vehicle safety and maintaining uniform standards across the Australian market.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006 applies to all road vehicles supplied in Australia, irrespective of whether they are manufactured domestically or imported as new or second-hand vehicles. This standard is established under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, which empowers the Australian Government to set nationally uniform standards for road vehicles. The Act ensures that vehicle components, including seatbelt anchorages, meet specific safety and comfort requirements to protect occupants during vehicle operation. The scope of this particular standard is to ensure that seatbelt anchorages are securely attached to the vehicle structure or seat, and adhere to the comfort requirements when in use. The standard repeals previous versions of the Australian Design Rule 5/03 that were in force at the commencement of this new standard, and it also repeals any associated instruments that no longer have other applicable vehicle standards. The standard is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, facilitating transparency and easy access to its history and changes. This administrative reform aligns with the requirements of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, enhancing the traceability and accessibility of individual ADRs.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 5/03 – Anchorages for Seatbelts) 2006, made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, sets forth specific requirements for the anchorages of seatbelt assemblies in road vehicles. These requirements ensure that seatbelt anchorages are adequately secured to the vehicle structure or seat and meet comfort requirements during use. The primary purpose of this standard is to enhance the safety of vehicle occupants by ensuring that seatbelts are effectively anchored and function as intended. The Act imposes specific obligations on parties involved in the manufacture, importation, and supply of road vehicles in Australia. Manufacturers and importers must ensure that all vehicles comply with the standards set out in ADR 5/03, which includes the proper design, installation, and testing of seatbelt anchorages. Dealers and suppliers are also required to ensure that any vehicles they supply meet these standards. Compliance with ADR 5/03 is mandatory for all road vehicles, whether they are manufactured domestically or imported. Failure to comply with the requirements of ADR 5/03 can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, non-compliance can lead to fines and, in more severe cases, criminal charges. The maximum penalties for supplying a non-compliant vehicle can include substantial fines, with the exact amount varying depending on the severity and frequency of the offence. Additionally, individuals or companies found guilty of knowingly supplying non-compliant vehicles may face imprisonment, further emphasizing the importance of adhering to these safety standards.

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Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
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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.