{"id":"F2006L02738","name":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/02 – Instrumentation) 2006","slug":"vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":59993,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L02738-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/02 – Instrumentation) 2006","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nVehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/02 – Instrumentation) 2006\n\nI, JAMES ERIC LLOYD, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, determine this vehicle standard under subsection 7 (1) of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.\n\nDated 10 August 2006\n\n\\[SIGNED\\]\n\nJames Eric Lloyd\n\nMinister for Local Government, Territories and Roads\n\nCONTENTS\n\nA. legislative provisions.............................................3\n\nA.1. NAME OF STANDARD..........................................3\n\nA.2. COMMENCEMENT.............................................3\n\nA.3. REPEAL......................................................3\n\nB. function and SCOPE.............................................3\n\nC. APPLICABILITY AND IMPLeMENTATION........................3\n\nC.1. Applicability Summary...........................................3\n\nC.2. Applicability Table..............................................4\n\n18.1. DEFINITIONS..................................................4\n\n18.2. VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES ONLY..........4\n\n18.3. LOCATION OF VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES\n\nONLY........................................................5\n\n18.4. VISIBILITY OF VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES\n\nONLY........................................................6\n\n18.5. SPEEDOMETERS AND ODOMETERS (ALL VEHICLES).............7\n\n  \n\nA. legislative provisions\n\nA.1. NAME OF STANDARD\n\nA.1.1. This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 18/02 –Instrumentation) 2006.\n\nA.1.2. This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 18/02 —Instrumentation.\n\nA.2. COMMENCEMENT\n\nA.2.1. This Standard commences on the day after it is registered.\n\nA.3. REPEAL\n\nA.3.1. This Standard repeals each vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 18/02 — Instrumentation that is:\n\n    made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989; and\n    in force at the commencement of this Standard.\n\nA.3.2. This Standard also repeals each instrument made under section 7 of the Motor Vehicle Standard Acts 1989 that creates a vehicle standard with the name Australian Design Rule 18/02 — Instrumentation, 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.\n\n1.  function and SCOPE\n    1.  The function of this national standard is to specify requirements for the provision and location of certain ‘Visual Indicators’.\n    2.  It also specifies requirements for speedometers and odometers.\n\n1.  APPLICABILITY AND IMPLeMENTATION\n    1.  Applicability Summary\n        1.  This national standard applies to the design and construction of vehicles as set out in the table below.\n        2.  MA vehicle models first approved after 1 July 1995 must comply with this national standard.\n        3.  Existing MA vehicle models need not comply with this national standard until  \n            1 January 1996.\n\n  \n\n1.  Applicability Table\n\n| Vehicle Category                              | ADR Category Code | UNECE Category Code | Manufactured on or After                 | Acceptable Prior Rules |\n| --------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------- |\n| Moped 2 wheels                                | LA                | L1                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n| Moped 3 wheels                                | LB                | L2                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n| Motor cycle                                   | LC                | L3                  | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Motor cycle and sidecar                       | LD                | L4                  | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Motor tricycle                                | LE                | L5                  |                                          |                        |\n|                                               | LEM               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n|                                               | LEP               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /01                    |\n|                                               | LEG               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /01                    |\n| Passenger car                                 | MA                | M1                  | 1 July 1995(refer clauses C.1.2 & C.1.3) | nil                    |\n| Forward-control passenger vehicle             | MB                | M1                  | 1 January 1995                           | /00, /01               |\n| Off-road passenger vehicle                    | MC                | M1                  | 1 January 1995                           | /00, /01               |\n| Light omnibus                                 | MD                | M2                  |                                          |                        |\n| up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and up to 12 seats     | MD1               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| up to 3.5 tonnes ‘GVM’ and more than 12 seats | MD2               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| over 3.5 tonnes and up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’    | MD3               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| over 4.5 tonnes and up to 5 tonnes ‘GVM’      | MD4               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Heavy omnibus                                 | ME                | M3                  | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Light goods vehicle                           | NA                | N1                  | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Medium goods vehicle                          | NB                | N2                  |                                          |                        |\n| over 3.5 tonnes up to 4.5 tonnes ‘GVM’        | NB1               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| over 4.5 tonnes up to 12 tonnes ‘GVM’         | NB2               |                     | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Heavy goods vehicle                           | NC                | N3                  | 1 July 1995                              | /00, /01               |\n| Very light trailer                            | TA                | O1                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n| Light trailer                                 | TB                | O2                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n| Medium trailer                                | TC                | O3                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n| Heavy trailer                                 | TD                | O4                  | not applicable                           |                        |\n\n1.  DEFINITIONS\n\nRefer to Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005.\n\n1.  VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  The display of information presented by the following ‘Visual Indicators’, if fitted, must be subject to control under this rule:\n\n  \nGroup I\n\n    Speedometer\n    Direction indicator “tell-tale” lamp or lamps\n    High beam indicator\n\nGroup II\n\n    Tachometer\n    Odometer\n    Service brake failure indicator lamp\n    Parking brake indicator lamp\n    Stop lamp failure indicator\n    Oil temperature indicator\n    Pressure indicator\n    Water temperature indicator\n    Battery charge failure indicator\n    Fuel level indicator\n    Seatbelt warning lamp\n    1.  In cases where more than one ‘Visual Indicator’ is provided for any one of the functions covered by (h) to (m) above, and are not located as specified in clause 18.3.2 a common indicator which could be either visual or an audible signal may be used to draw attention to the need to refer to a group of indicators located elsewhere.\n        1.  In such cases the common indicator, if visual, must be totally located within the area specified in clause 18.3.2.\n\n1.  LOCATION OF VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  All “Visual Indicators” specified as Group I in clause 18.2 must be located between 2 vertical planes inclined at 30o left and 20o right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and passing through the foremost points of the left and right ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ respectively. Such indicators must be totally located above a plane inclined downwards at 35° from the horizontal and including a horizontal transverse line through the foremost points of each of the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ and below a plane tangential to the bottom of the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ which includes a line at ground level transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle 11 m forward of the rearmost eye ellipse point.\n    2.  All ‘Visual Indicators’ specified as Group II in clause 18.2 must be totally located between 2 vertical planes inclined at 40° left and 25° right of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and passing through the foremost points of the left and right ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ respectively. Such indicators must be totally located above a plane inclined downwards at 35° from the horizontal and including a horizontal transverse line through the foremost points of each of the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ and below a plane tangential to the bottom of the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ which includes a line at ground level transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle ll m forward of the rearmost eye ellipse point.\n\n  \n\n1.  VISIBILITY OF VISUAL INDICATORS FOR MA and LEP VEHICLES ONLY\n    1.  The requirements of clauses 18.4.1.1 and 18.4.1.2 must be met when:\n\n    the steering wheel is in the straight ahead position;\n    the direction indicator lever is in the “Neutral” position;\n    in the case of column change automatic transmission vehicles the gear selector is in the “Drive” position;\n    in the case of column change manual transmission vehicles with 2 or 3 forward gear ratios, the gear selector is in “Top” gear position;\n    in the case of column change manual transmission vehicles with more than 3 forward gear ratios, the gear selector is in “Top” gear position or the next lower gear position whichever is the more critical in terms of obscuration of ‘Visual Indicators’.\n    1.  All ‘Visual Indicators’ other than indicator lamps must be ‘Totally Visible’ when viewed from each pair of eye positions located by the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ except that:\n        1.  in the case of Group I ‘Visual Indicators’, the portion of the steering wheel rim including its supporting arms that is below a plane tangential to the top of the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ and the underside of the highest rim cross-section cut normal to the rim, must not constitute an obstruction;\n        2.  in the case of Group II ‘Visual Indicators’ the steering wheel rim and its supporting arms and attachments thereto must not constitute obstructions.\n    2.  Any object which represents an obstruction to any single eye position within the terms of clause 18.4.1.1 must have no surfaces, in the line of sight to the ‘Visual Indicator’, which present a metal finish with a ‘Specular Gloss’ exceeding 40 units when measured by the 20 degree geometry method of ASTM Standard D523-62T-\"Specular Gloss\" June 1962 or ASTM Standard D523-85T-\"Specular Gloss\", September 1985.\n    3.  All indicator lamp ‘Visual Indicators’ must either be ‘Totally Visible’, or an area of not less than 18 square millimetres with dimensions such that a 2 mm diameter circle is totally enclosed within the area, must be ‘Totally Visible’ when viewed from each single eye position located by the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’. The obstruction exemptions provided for in clause 18.4.1.1 must also be applicable to this clause.\n    4.  In the case of a motor vehicle provided with a steering wheel capable of axial and vertical adjustments, it must be demonstrated that for any eye position located by the ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’, there is at least one steering wheel position where the requirements of clauses 18.4.1.1 to 18.4.1.3 are complied with.\n\n1.  The vehicle speed indicating element must be of such colour or contrast as to differentiate it from the viewed background.\n2.  Deleted.\n\n  \n\n1.  SPEEDOMETERS AND ODOMETERS (ALL VEHICLES)\n    1.  Speedometers\n        1.  Unless otherwise ‘Approved’, every vehicle must be fitted with a speedometer which must:\n            1.  indicate vehicle speed only in kilometres per hour; and\n            2.  indicate the actual vehicle speed, for all speeds above 40 km/h, to an accuracy of ± 10 per cent.\n        2.  The speedometer must be installed so that its indication is readily visible to the driver when seated in the normal driving position.\n    2.  Odometers\n        1.  Every vehicle other than LA, LB and LEM group vehicles must be fitted with an odometer which must:\n            1.  indicate distance travelled in one kilometre units (or less) at least from 1 to 600,000 kilometres (for MA, MB and MC category vehicles) and from 1 to 999,999 kilometres for all other category vehicles; and\n            2.  indicate the actual distance travelled by the vehicle to an accuracy of ± 4 per cent.\n        2.  Every vehicle of category LC, LD and LEM must be fitted with an odometer which must:\n            1.  indicate distance travelled in one kilometre units from 1 to 99,999 kilometres; and\n            2.  indicate the actual distance travelled by the vehicle to an accuracy of ± 4 per cent.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument repeals earlier versions of ADR 18/02 and consolidates the instrumentation requirements, but the text does not introduce broader or narrower categories of vehicles or materially different subject-matter scope. Applicability and effective dates follow the same category-based approach in clause C.1.2 and the Applicability Table; no explicit expansion or contraction of regulated vehicle types is stated (A.3.1, C.1.2)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical geometric placement rules using ‘95th Percentile Eye Ellipses’ and precise angular/plane limits (clauses 18.3.1–18.3.2).","Detailed visibility tests tied to multiple eye positions, steering wheel and gear selector positions, and exemptions for particular obstructions (clauses 18.4.1–18.4.4).","Quantitative accuracy tolerances for speedometers and odometers and different range requirements by vehicle category (clauses 18.5.1–18.5.2).","Cross-references to external definitions and category rules (Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005), increasing interpretive dependencies (clause 18.1).","Use of external measurement standards for material finish (ASTM D523) creating testing protocol obligations (clause 18.4.2).","Applicability table with many vehicle categories and staggered effective dates, creating phased compliance obligations (C.1.2 and Applicability Table).","Legal effect of repeal and replacement language requiring attention to prior instruments and remaining in-force amendments (A.3.1–A.3.2)."],"plain_english_summary":"This standard prescribes minimum instrumentation rules for vehicles — mainly location and visibility of specified dashboard ‘Visual Indicators’ for MA and LEP vehicles, plus accuracy and fitting requirements for speedometers and odometers (clauses 18.2–18.5). It replaces earlier ADR 18/02 instruments (A.3.1) and applies to new models approved after the listed dates (C.1.2 and the Applicability Table).\n\nVehicle manufacturers must design instrument panels and select components to meet the geometric, visibility and accuracy tests; compliance costs and design choices fall on manufacturers and approval holders (18.3–18.5)."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of regulating vehicle instrumentation. The 2006 version appears to be a consolidation/reissue of previous versions (/00 and /01), with the same core scope covering visual indicator placement and speedometer/odometer requirements. No significant scope creep is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive use of technical engineering terminology ('95th Percentile Eye Ellipses', 'Specular Gloss', 'longitudinal axis') without plain English alternatives","Complex geometric positioning requirements using multiple intersecting planes and angles (30° left, 20° right, 35° downward planes)","Cross-reference to external definition standard (Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005) for all defined terms","Nested conditional applicability based on vehicle category codes (MA, MB, MC, etc.) with 25+ distinct vehicle categories in the applicability table","Multiple phased implementation dates (1 July 1995, 1 January 1996, 1 January 1995) varying by vehicle type","Technical measurement references to ASTM standards for gloss measurement (D523-62T and D523-85T)","Conditional exceptions within visibility requirements (steering wheel position exemptions that vary by indicator group)","Deleted clause (18.4.2.2) creating gap in numbering sequence"],"plain_english_summary":"This law sets required placement and visibility standards for dashboard instruments in Australian vehicles and mandates accuracy and range limits for speedometers and odometers. It uses a driver‑eye model to define where critical indicators must be seen and bans reflective surfaces that could glare the driver.\n\nWho it affects: vehicle manufacturers, importers and builders. Why it matters: ensures drivers can quickly see safety‑critical information and that speed/distance readings are reliable for road safety and maintenance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006","history":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-18-02-instrumentation-2006/documents"}}