{"id":"road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013","name":"Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Mass and Loading Requirements) Regulations 2013","slug":"road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":237122,"registerId":"sa-road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-06","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Mass and Loading Requirements) Regulations 2013","content":"South Australia\nRoad Traffic (Light Vehicle Mass and Loading Requirements) Regulations 2013\nunder the Road Traffic Act 1961\n\nContents\n1\tShort title\n3\tSchedule 1 contains light vehicle mass and loading requirements\n4\tInterpretation\n5\tApplication of light vehicle mass and loading requirements\n6\tProof of loading offences\nSchedule 1—Light vehicle mass and loading requirements\nPart 1—Light vehicle mass limits\n1\tMass limit for single vehicle\n2\tMass of vehicle towed by vehicle\nPart 2—Size and projection of loads\n3\tSize limits\n4\tFront and side projections\n5\tRear projections\n6\tDangerous projections\nPart 3—Placing and securing loads\n7\tLoading obligations\n7A\tRestricting movement of load\n8\tTrailers\nDictionary\nLegislative history\n\n1—Short title\nThese regulations may be cited as the Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Mass and Loading Requirements) Regulations 2013.\n3—Schedule 1 contains light vehicle mass and loading requirements\nSchedule 1 contains light vehicle mass and loading requirements made under section 113 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.\nNote—\nIf a vehicle that does not comply with the light vehicle mass and loading requirements is driven on a road, a person commits an offence if the person is the driver or operator of the vehicle (sections 123 and 124 of the Road Traffic Act 1961).\n4—Interpretation\n\t(1)\tA definition in the dictionary at the end of these regulations applies to each use of the word or expression in these regulations, unless the contrary intention appears.\n\t(2)\tA note does not form part of these regulations.\n\t(3)\tA diagram appearing in these regulations is illustrative only.\n5—Application of light vehicle mass and loading requirements\n\t(1)\tSchedule 1 applies only to—\n\t(a)\tlight vehicles; and\n\t(b)\tcombinations that consist of light vehicles only.\n\t(2)\tHowever, Schedule 1 does not apply to a vehicle or combination that is used only on a railway or tramway.\nNotes—\n1\tA light vehicle is a vehicle that is not a heavy vehicle—see section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1961.\n2\tA heavy vehicle is a vehicle that has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes. Also, a combination that includes a vehicle with a GVM or ATM of more than 4.5 tonnes is a heavy vehicle—see section 6 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (South Australia).\n6—Proof of loading offences\n\t(1)\tIn proceedings for a failure to comply with Schedule 1 clause 7 (relating to loading a vehicle), it is sufficient for the prosecution to prove that the load on the vehicle was not placed, secured or restrained (as the case requires) in a way that met the performance standards recommended in the Load Restraint Guide published by the National Transport Commission, as in force from time to time.\n\t(2)\tIf the prosecution in proceedings for a failure to comply with Schedule 1 clause 7(2) (relating to securing a load on a vehicle) proves that the load, or part of the load, had fallen off the vehicle, the burden of proof is on the defendant to show compliance.\nSchedule 1—Light vehicle mass and loading requirements\nPart 1—Light vehicle mass limits\n1—Mass limit for single vehicle\n\t(1)\tThe mass of any load on a vehicle must not exceed a maximum specified by the vehicle's manufacturer.\n\t(2)\tThe total mass of a vehicle and any load must not exceed the vehicle's GVM.\n2—Mass of vehicle towed by vehicle\nThe loaded mass of a vehicle towed by another vehicle must not exceed—\n\t(a)\tthe capacity of the towing apparatus of the towing vehicle; or\n\t(b)\ta 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\n\t(c)\tif 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\n\t(d)\tif 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.\nPart 2—Size and projection of loads\n3—Size limits\n\t(1)\tA vehicle or a combination, and its load, must not exceed a size limit set for the vehicle or combination in the Light Vehicle Standards.\n\t(2)\tThe 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.\n\nIllustration of rear overhang limit from Light Vehicle Standards and maximum rear projection of load allowed without a warning signal\n4—Front and side projections\nA 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.\n\nVehicle loaded to width limits referred to in clause 3(1), with maximum side projection of load allowed under this clause\n\nIllustration of front and rear projection limits\nNote—\nThe 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.\n5—Rear projections\n\t(1)\tThe rear of a load on a vehicle must carry a warning signal if the load—\n\t(a)\tprojects more than 1.2 metres behind the vehicle; or\n\t(b)\tprojects to the rear of the vehicle so that the end of the load cannot be seen easily from behind.\n\t(2)\tIn daytime, the warning signal must be a brightly coloured flag or piece of material, with each side at least 300 millimetres long.\n\t(3)\tIn the night the warning signal must be a red light which can be seen for 200 metres.\n6—Dangerous projections\nA 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.\nPart 3—Placing and securing loads\n7—Loading obligations\n\t(1)\tA load on a vehicle must not be placed in a way that makes the vehicle unstable or unsafe.\n\t(2)\tA load on a vehicle must be secured so that it is unlikely to fall or be dislodged from the vehicle.\n\t(3)\tAn appropriate method must be used to restrain the load on a vehicle.\n\t(4)\tThis clause is not limited by clause 7A.\n7A—Restricting movement of load\n\t(1)\tA load on a vehicle must be restrained by a method that—\n\t(a)\tprevents 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\n\t(b)\tat a minimum, is capable of withstanding the forces that would result in the circumstances referred to in subclause (3).\n\t(2)\tA load may move in relation to the vehicle if—\n\t(a)\tthe vehicle's stability and weight distribution are not adversely affected by the movement; and\n\t(b)\tthe load does not become dislodged from the vehicle.\nExamples of load movement that may be permitted under subclause (2)—\n\t1\tA load contained within the sides or enclosure of the vehicle that is restrained from moving horizontally may be able to move vertically.\n\t2\tA 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.\n\t3\tA bulk liquid load contained within the sides or enclosure of the vehicle.\n\t(3)\tFor the purposes of subclause (1), the circumstances are that the vehicle is subject to—\n\t(a)\tany of the following, separately:\n\t(i)\t0.8g deceleration in a forwards direction;\n\t(ii)\t0.5g deceleration in a rearwards direction;\n\t(iii)\t0.5g acceleration in a lateral direction; and\n\t(b)\tif friction or limited vertical displacement is relied on to comply with paragraph (a)—0.2g acceleration in a vertical direction relative to the load.\n\t(4)\tIn this clause—\ng means gravitational acceleration or 9.81 m/s².\n8—Trailers\n\t(1)\tA trailer in a combination must be securely coupled to the vehicle in front of it.\n\t(2)\tThe components of a coupling used between vehicles must be compatible and properly connected to each other.\nDictionary\nIn these regulations—\nADR (Australian Design Rule) means a national standard under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth, as in force from time to time;\naxle group means a single axle group, tandem axle group or tri‑axle group;\ncombination means a group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle towing 1 or more vehicles;\nNote—\nUnder 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.\nLight Vehicle Standards means the Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Standards) Rules 2018;\nrear overhang line means—\n\t(a)\tif there is a single axle at the rear of the vehicle—the centre‑line of the axle; or\n\t(b)\tif 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;\n\nRear overhang line on a typical motor vehicle that has an axle group\n\nRear overhang line on a typical semi‑trailer\nretractable axle means an axle that can be raised so that the tyres on the axle do not touch the ground;\ntandem 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;\ntri‑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.\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tPlease note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.\n\t•\tEarlier versions of these regulations (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nPrincipal regulations and variations\nNew entries appear in bold.\nYear\nNo\nReference\nCommencement\n2013\n299\nGazette 19.12.2013 p5033\n10.2.2014: r 2\n2018\n7\nGazette 23.1.2018 p377\n23.1.2018: r 2\n2019\n232\nGazette 7.11.2019 p3778\n1.12.2019: r 2\nProvisions varied\nNew entries appear in bold.\nProvision\nHow varied\nCommencement\nr 2\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n23.1.2018\nDictionary\n\n\nLight Vehicle Standards\nvaried by 7/2018 r 4\n23.1.2018\nSch 1\n\n\nPt 3\n\n\ncl 7\n\n\ncl 7(4)\ninserted by 232/2019 r 4(1)\n1.12.2019\ncl 7A\ninserted by 232/2019 r 4(2)\n1.12.2019\nHistorical versions\n23.1.2018\n\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating mass and loading requirements for light vehicles. The 2019 amendments added clause 7A with specific performance standards for load restraint, but this was a technical enhancement rather than an expansion beyond the original scope. The regulations have not grown to cover heavy vehicles (explicitly excluded) or unrelated road traffic matters."},"complexity_factors":["Incorporation by reference to external documents (Light Vehicle Standards 2018, Load Restraint Guide, Australian Design Rules) without reproducing their content","Technical physics-based standards in clause 7A(3) requiring calculation of forces (0.8g deceleration, 0.5g lateral acceleration)","Nested conditional logic in clause 2 (towing mass limits) with four alternative paragraphs (a)-(d) that depend on manufacturer specifications and brake configurations","Cross-references to multiple other Acts (Road Traffic Act 1961, Heavy Vehicle National Law, Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989)","13 defined terms in Dictionary including technical concepts like 'axle group', 'tandem axle group', and 'tri-axle group'","Evidentiary provisions in section 6 creating reverse onus of proof (defendant must prove compliance if load fell off)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set the rules for how much weight cars, utes, vans, and other light vehicles can carry, and how loads must be secured and positioned on South Australian roads.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Drivers and operators** of light vehicles (vehicles weighing 4.5 tonnes or less)\n- **Businesses** that use light vehicles to transport goods\n- **Anyone towing trailers** with a light vehicle\n\n**Key requirements:**\n\n- **Weight limits:** You cannot exceed the manufacturer's specified maximum load or the vehicle's Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM). When towing, the trailer's loaded weight must not exceed the towing capacity specified by the manufacturer, or specific formulas if no capacity is stated.\n\n- **Load size and projections:**\n  - Loads cannot stick out more than **1.2 metres in front** of the vehicle\n  - Loads cannot stick out more than **150 millimetres (15cm) from either side**\n  - Rear projections over **1.2 metres** require a warning flag (daytime) or red light (nighttime)\n  - Loads must not project dangerously, even if they meet size rules\n\n- **Securing loads:**\n  - Loads must be placed so the vehicle remains stable and safe\n  - Loads must be secured so they won't fall off or shift dangerously\n  - Restraint methods must withstand specific force standards (for example, 0.8g deceleration when braking)\n  - If a load falls off, the driver/operator must prove they complied with loading rules\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules prevent accidents caused by shifting loads, overweight vehicles, or dangerous projections. Overloaded or poorly secured vehicles are harder to control, damage roads, and can cause serious injury or death if loads fall onto other road users.\n\n**How offences are proven:**\n\nIf a load falls off, the prosecution only needs to show it wasn't secured to the standards in the National Transport Commission's *Load Restraint Guide*. The driver or operator then bears the burden of proving they did comply."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative text was not available for review. No comparison between original intent and final form is possible."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was retrievable — the source URL returned a 404 error","Analysis is based solely on the regulation's title, not its actual content","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without the operative provisions, schedules, or definitions"],"plain_english_summary":"The link provided returned a 404 error, so the actual text of the Road Traffic (Light Vehicle Mass and Loading Requirements) Regulations 2013 (SA) couldn’t be retrieved or analyzed. \n\nBy title, the regulation would set weight and loading limits for light vehicles and rules for securing/distributing cargo, affecting drivers, vehicle owners and businesses that carry loads; it matters because overloaded or unsecured loads create major road‑safety, infrastructure and enforcement risks."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument’s scope and technical specificity were amended after enactment. In 2018 the Light Vehicle Standards reference was varied (Legislative history). On 1 December 2019 clause 7A was inserted and clause 7(4) added (Legislative history), introducing explicit dynamic restraint performance requirements (specified g‑force tests in Sch 1 cl 7A) and clarifying that clause 7 is not limited by clause 7A. Those changes added measurable technical tests and clarified the relationship between general duties and performance tests, increasing regulatory specificity and compliance precision."},"complexity_factors":["Cross‑references to multiple external instruments: Light Vehicle Standards (dictionary) and the national Load Restraint Guide (reg 6(1))","Mixture of qualitative duties (secure, not dangerous: Sch 1 cl 6) and quantitative technical tests (specified g‑force criteria in Sch 1 cl 7A)","Multiple alternative numerical limits and conditional rules for towing capacity (Sch 1 cl 2(a)–(d))","Evidential shift: burden on defendant where part of a load has fallen (reg 6(2))","Detailed dimensional rules with day/night signalling requirements and specific measurements (Sch 1 cl 3–5)","Definitions with technical geometry (rear overhang line, axle group, retractable axle) that affect measurement and compliance","Interaction between general duty (Sch 1 cl 7) and the more specific performance standard (Sch 1 cl 7A) plus an express non‑limitation clause (Sch 1 cl 7(4))","Enforcement depends on prosecutorial proof against technical standards that evolve (Load Restraint Guide 'as in force from time to time')","Sectoral scope limits and exceptions (applies only to light vehicles and combinations; excludes railway/tramway use: reg 5)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set maximum weights, size limits and load‑securing rules for light vehicles and light combinations in South Australia. They require loads to stay within manufacturer and Light Vehicle Standards limits, be restrained using methods consistent with the national Load Restraint Guide, and display prescribed warning signals for rear projections. Drivers and operators bear the compliance cost and risk prosecution; manufacturers and the Light Vehicle Standards determine permitted limits, prosecutions may rely on the Load Restraint Guide, and Schedule 1 clause 7A sets technical restraint tests (Schedule 1, cl 7A; reg 6(1)–(2))."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013","history":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013/history","analysis":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/road-traffic-light-vehicle-mass-and-loading-requirements-regulations-2013/documents"}}