ROAD TRAFFIC (LIGHT VEHICLE MASS AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS) REGULATIONS 2013 - SCHEDULE 1
ROAD TRAFFIC (LIGHT VEHICLE MASS AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS) REGULATIONS 2013 - SCHEDULE 1
Schedule 1—Light vehicle mass and loading requirements
Part 1—Light vehicle mass limits
1—Mass limit for single vehicle
(1) The mass of any
load on a vehicle must not exceed a maximum specified by the vehicle's
manufacturer.
(2) The total mass of
a vehicle and any load must not exceed the vehicle's GVM.
2—Mass of vehicle towed by vehicle
The loaded mass of a vehicle towed by another vehicle must not exceed—
(a) the
capacity of the towing apparatus of the towing vehicle; or
(b) a
mass specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as the maximum mass
of a vehicle that may be towed by the towing vehicle; or
(c) if a
mass is not specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as referred to
in paragraph (b) and the towed vehicle is fitted with brakes that may be
operated by the driver of the towing vehicle—one and a half times the
unloaded mass of the towing vehicle; or
(d) if a
mass is not specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as referred to
in paragraph (b) and the towed vehicle is not fitted with brakes that may
be operated by the driver of the towing vehicle—the unloaded mass of the
towing vehicle.
Part 2—Size and projection of loads
(1) A vehicle or a
combination, and its load, must not exceed a size limit set for the vehicle or
combination in the Light Vehicle Standards.
(2) The distance
measured at right angles between the rear overhang line of a vehicle and the
rear of any load it is carrying must not exceed the rear overhang that the
vehicle is allowed under the Light Vehicle Standards.
Illustration of rear overhang limit from Light Vehicle Standards and maximum
rear projection of load allowed without a warning signal
A load on a vehicle must not project more than 1.2 metres in front
of the vehicle, or more than 150 millimetres from the outermost part
of either side of it.
Vehicle loaded to width limits referred to in clause 3(1), with maximum
side projection of load allowed under this clause
Illustration of front and rear projection limits
Note—
The combined dimensions of a vehicle and its load must still meet the
requirements of clause 3 even if the load projects from the vehicle in
any direction.
(1) The rear of a load
on a vehicle must carry a warning signal if the load—
(a)
projects more than 1.2 metres behind the vehicle; or
(b)
projects to the rear of the vehicle so that the end of the load cannot be seen
easily from behind.
(2) In daytime, the
warning signal must be a brightly coloured flag or piece of material, with
each side at least 300 millimetres long.
(3) In the night the
warning signal must be a red light which can be seen for 200 metres.
A load on a vehicle must not project in a way that is dangerous to a person or
to property, even if all dimension and warning requirements are met.
Part 3—Placing and securing loads
(1) A load on a
vehicle must not be placed in a way that makes the vehicle unstable or unsafe.
(2) A load on a
vehicle must be secured so that it is unlikely to fall or be dislodged from
the vehicle.
(3) An appropriate
method must be used to restrain the load on a vehicle.
(4) This clause is not
limited by clause 7A.
7A—Restricting movement of load
(1) A load on a
vehicle must be restrained by a method that—
(a)
prevents the load from moving in relation to the vehicle (other than movement
allowed under subclause (2)) in the circumstances referred to in
subclause (3); and
(b) at a
minimum, is capable of withstanding the forces that would result in the
circumstances referred to in subclause (3).
(2) A load may move in
relation to the vehicle if—
(a) the
vehicle's stability and weight distribution are not adversely affected by the
movement; and
(b) the
load does not become dislodged from the vehicle.
Examples of load movement that may be permitted under
subclause (2)—
1 A load contained
within the sides or enclosure of the vehicle that is restrained from moving
horizontally may be able to move vertically.
2 A load of very light
objects, or a loose bulk load, that is contained within the sides or enclosure
of the vehicle may be able to move horizontally and vertically.
3 A bulk liquid load
contained within the sides or enclosure of the vehicle.
(3) For the purposes
of subclause (1), the circumstances are that the vehicle is subject
to—
(a) any
of the following, separately:
(i)
0.8g deceleration in a forwards direction;
(ii)
0.5g deceleration in a rearwards direction;
(iii)
0.5g acceleration in a lateral direction; and
(b) if
friction or limited vertical displacement is relied on to comply with
paragraph (a)—0.2g acceleration in a vertical direction
relative to the load.
(4) In this
clause—
g means gravitational acceleration or 9.81 m/s².
(1) A trailer in a
combination must be securely coupled to the vehicle in front of it.
(2) The components of
a coupling used between vehicles must be compatible and properly connected to
each other.
In these regulations—
ADR (Australian Design Rule) means a national standard under the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth, as in force from
time to time;
axle group means a single axle group, tandem axle group or tri-axle group;
combination means a group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle
towing 1 or more vehicles;
Note—
Under regulation 20A of the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 1999
a light motor vehicle (other than a tractor) is only permitted to
tow 1 vehicle. Tractors may tow 2 vehicles.
Light Vehicle Standards means the Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Standards)
Rules 2018 ;
rear overhang line means—
(a) if
there is a single axle at the rear of the vehicle—the centre-line of the
axle; or
(b) if
there is an axle group at the rear of the vehicle—the centre of the axle
group, determined without regard to the presence of any steerable axle or
retractable axle in the group unless all axles in the group are steerable or
retractable;
Rear overhang line on a typical motor vehicle that has an axle group
Rear overhang line on a typical semi-trailer
retractable axle means an axle that can be raised so that the tyres on the
axle do not touch the ground;
tandem axle group means a group of at least 2 axles, in which the
horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is at
least 1 metre, but not more than 2 metres;
tri-axle group means a group of at least 3 axles, in which the
horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more
than 2 metres, but not more than 3.2 metres.