Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006

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

Legislation au F2006L03054 In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 2006

 

CONTENTS

 

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

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

3. content and effect of ADR 62/00 - Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  1.                        legislative context

Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 — Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 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) 62/00 was originally determined in Determination of Motor Vehicle Standards Order No. 3 of 1989 and has been amended in five subsequent determinations.  ADR 62/00 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 62/00 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 62/00 - Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles
    1.                  Overview of the ADR

The function of this vehicle standard is to specify requirements for devices for mechanical connections between vehicles and their fitment.  It covers additional design and construction requirements for vehicles designed to be used in combination.


  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 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006.

1.1.2. This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 62/00 — Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles.

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 62/00 — Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles 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 62/00 — Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles, 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 4 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 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 38 – Trailer Brake Systems (s8.1)
  • 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 1771-1987 “Installation of Fifth Wheel and Turntable assemblies” (s5.2.4.1.1)
    • Australian Standard 2174-1978 “Recommendations for positions and heights of Fifth Wheels for Articulated Vehicles” (s5.2.4.1.2)
    • AS 2174-1994 “Articulated vehicles - Mechanical coupling between prime movers and Semitrailers - Interchangeability requirements” (s5.2.4.1.2)
    • Australian Standard 2175-1990 “Articulated Vehicles - Kingpins”, Appendix D (s5.2.4.2)
    • Australian Standard 1773-1990 “Articulated Vehicles - Fifth Wheel Assemblies” (s5.3.1)
    • of Australian Standard 2175-1990 “Articulated Vehicles - Kingpins” (s5.3.2)
    • Australian Standard 2213-1984 “50 mm Pin-type Couplings and Drawbar Eyes for Trailers” (s5.3.3)
    • AS D18-1968 “50 mm Ball Couplings (for Automotive Purposes)” (s5.3.4.1)
    • AS 4177.2-1994 “Caravan and light trailer towing components - 50 mm towballs” (s5.3.4.3)
    • Australian Standard 4177.3-1994 “Coupling Body for Ball Couplings” (s5.3.4.3)
    • Australian Standard 1872-1976 “Safety Chains for Trailers and Caravans” (s8.4.4)
    • Australian Standard AS 4177.4 1994 “Safety Chains up to 3500 kg capacity” (s8.4.5)
    • Australian Standard 2321-1979 “Short Link Chain for Lifting Purposes (non calibrated)” (s8.4.6)
  • International Standards Organisation, http://www.iso.org
    • ISO Standard 3853 “Strength Tests” (s5.3.4.2)
    • ISO Standard 1103 “Dimensional Characteristics” (s5.3.4.2)
  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 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006 was enacted under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989. This legislation was introduced to ensure that there are nationally uniform standards for road vehicles when they are first supplied to the market in Australia, regardless of whether they are manufactured domestically or imported. The Act addresses the need for a cohesive and consistent regulatory framework to govern the safety and operational standards of vehicles sold in Australia. The remaking of Australian Design Rule (ADR) 62/00 was conducted to comply with the requirements of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, enhancing accessibility and tracking of legislative changes for individual ADRs. The policy objective is to maintain high safety and performance standards for mechanical connections between vehicles, ensuring that these components meet specific design and construction requirements when vehicles are used in combination.

Scope and Application

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006 is made under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 and applies to all road vehicles and vehicle components supplied to the Australian market, irrespective of whether they are manufactured domestically or imported as new or second-hand vehicles. This standard specifically pertains to the mechanical connections between vehicles and their fitment, ensuring compliance with safety and performance requirements. The Act applies to the entire nation, with a uniform approach to vehicle standards across Australia. The remaking of Australian Design Rule (ADR) 62/00 was necessitated by the requirements of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 to facilitate better tracking of legislative changes and enhance accessibility to vehicle standards. ADR 62/00 itself has undergone formatting changes, spelling and grammar corrections, and references to other standards and documents to ensure compliance with the new legislative framework. There are no substantive changes to the standard's technical content. The standard is registered and available on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments, which also details its change history.

Key Provisions

The Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 62/00 – Mechanical Connections Between Vehicles) 2006, made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989, establishes uniform standards for mechanical connections between vehicles in Australia. It applies to both domestically manufactured and imported vehicles. The primary sections of the Act (sections 1.1 to 1.3) specify the name, commencement, and repeal of the standard, ensuring it stands alone as a separate legislative instrument to comply with the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. The standard details requirements for the design and construction of mechanical connections and their fitment on vehicles intended for use in combination. The Act imposes obligations on manufacturers and importers to ensure that vehicles and their components meet the specified standards for mechanical connections. It mandates that these connections must be safe, durable, and capable of withstanding specified loads and stresses. Compliance with these standards is crucial for ensuring road safety and preventing vehicle-related accidents. Breaches of the standards outlined in the Act can result in significant consequences. Although the explanatory statement does not detail specific offences or penalties, violations of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 can lead to civil and criminal penalties. These may include fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment for individuals or corporations found guilty of non-compliance. The exact penalties would depend on the severity and nature of the breach, as defined under the overarching Act. Ensuring adherence to these standards is, therefore, essential for all parties involved in the manufacture and import of vehicles in Australia.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Vehicle Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Repeal & Amendment
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.