{"id":"F2017L01229","name":"Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 88/00 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems) 2017","slug":"vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":97146,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L01229-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"CONTENTS","sectionType":"part","heading":"CONTENTS","content":"## CONTENTS\n\n1. legislative provisions.............................................3\n\n2. FUNCTION....................................................3\n\n3. APPLICABILITY...............................................3\n\n4. DEFINITIONS..................................................4\n\n5. REQUIREMENTS...............................................4\n\n6. EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES.................4\n\n7. ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS....................................5\n\nAPPENDIX A.........................................................7\n\n  \n\n1.  LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS\n    1.  Name of Standard\n        1.  This Standard is the Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 88/00 – Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems) 2017.\n        2.  This Standard may also be cited as Australian Design Rule 88/00 — Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Systems.\n    2.  Commencement\n        1.  This Standard commences on the day after it is registered.\n2.  FUNCTION\n    1.  The function of this standard is to specify requirements for Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles to reduce the risk of crashes involving a loss of directional control of the vehicle, including those resulting in vehicle rollover.\n3.  APPLICABILITY\n    1.  This vehicle standard applies to all category MA, MB, MC and NA vehicles; from the dates set out in clauses 3.1.1 to 3.1.2, and the table under clause 3.3 below.\n        1.  1 July 2019 for all new model vehicles.\n        2.  There is no mandatory application date for all other vehicles. They may comply with this vehicle standard, or continue to comply with ADR 31/03 or ADR 35/05, as applicable for the particular vehicle category.\n    2.  For the purposes of clause 3.1.1, a \"new model\" is a vehicle model first produced with a 'Date of manufacture' on or after the agreed date in that clause.  \n        \n    3.  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                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Moped 3 wheels                    | LB                 | L2                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Motor cycle                       | LC                 | L3                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Motor cycle and sidecar           | LD                 | L4                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Motor tricycle                    | LE                 | L5                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Passenger car                     | MA                 | M1                     | 1 July 2019**            | see clause 3.1.2       |\n| Forward-control passenger vehicle | MB                 | M1                     | 1 July 2019**            | see clause 3.1.2       |\n| Off-road passenger vehicle        | MC                 | M1                     | 1 July 2019**            | see clause 3.1.2       |\n| Light omnibus                     | MD                 | M2                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Heavy omnibus                     | ME                 | M3                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Light goods vehicle               | NA                 | N1                     | 1 July 2019**            | see clause 3.1.2       |\n| Medium goods vehicle              | NB                 | N2                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Heavy goods vehicle               | NC                 | N3                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Very light trailer                | TA                 | O1                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Light trailer                     | TB                 | O2                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Medium trailer                    | TC                 | O3                     | N/A                      |                        |\n| Heavy trailer                     | TD                 | O4                     | N/A                      |                        |\n\n1.  DEFINITIONS\n    1.  For vehicle categories, definitions and meanings used in this standard, refer to:\n        1.  Definitions in Appendix A of this standard or the alternative standards at clause 7; and where there is no conflict\n        2.  Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule Definitions and Vehicle Categories) 2005.\n2.  REQUIREMENTS\n    1.  Vehicles must be equipped with an Electronic Stability Control system meeting the requirements of Appendix A, except as varied by clause 6 Exemptions and Alternative Procedures.\n    2.  “Approval Authority” must be read as “Administrator of Vehicle Standards” (as defined in the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989).\n    3.  “Technical Service” must be read as “Manufacturer”.\n3.  EXEMPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES\n    1.  Compliance with the following parts, sections and annexes of Appendix A is not required for the purposes of this standard:\n\nSection 3 Application for approval\n\nSection 4 Approval\n\nSection 10 Modification of vehicle type or ESC system and extension of approval\n\nSection 11 Conformity of production\n\nSection 12 Penalties for non-conformity of production\n\nSection 13 Production definitively discontinued\n\nSection 14 Names and addresses of Technical Services responsible for conducting approval tests, and of Type Approval Authorities\n\nAnnexes\n\nAnnex 1 Communication\n\nAnnex 2 Arrangement of the approval mark\n\n1.  Vehicles will be deemed, for the purposes of certification to this national standard, to meet the requirements of paragraph 7.7 of Appendix A, and Annexes 3 to 5 of Appendix A, if compliance can be demonstrated during a Conformity of Production assessment.\n\n1.  ALTERNATIVE STANDARDS\n    1.  For vehicles equipped with an Electronic Stability Control system, the technical requirements of the United Nations Regulation No. 140 – UNIFORM PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF PASSENGER CARS WITH REGARD TO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEMS, incorporating the 00 series of amendments, are deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of this standard.\n        1.  Vehicles will be deemed, for the purposes of certification to this national standard, to meet the requirements of paragraph 7.7 of UN R 140/00, and Annexes 3 to 5 of UN R 140/00, if compliance can be demonstrated during a Conformity of Production assessment.\n    2.  The technical requirements of the United Nations Global technical regulation No.8 – ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS, incorporating corrigenda 1 and 2, are deemed to be equivalent to the technical requirements of this standard.\n        1.  The following exemptions to the provisions of Global technical regulation No.8 apply:\n            1.  Clause 5.4. (f), where the ESC malfunction tell-tale need not illuminate if it is combined in a two-part telltale with the “ESC Off” tell-tale, and this is illuminated;\n            2.  Clause 5.5.3;\n            3.  Clause 6.3.1., where the ESC system must be enabled for all testing, except where otherwise specified in the text;\n            4.  Clause 6.3.2., where the fuel tank need only be filled to at least 75 per cent of capacity;\n            5.  Clause 6.3.4., where outriggers may be used for vehicles with a Static Stability Factor (SSF) > 1.25;\n            6.  Clause 6.3.4, where the vehicle mass may be the mass of the vehicle, fully fuelled, with a 73 kg driver; and\n            7.  Clause 7.10.2., where the vehicle test speed need not be achieved within 30 seconds of starting the engine and more than one brake application may be made.\n\n##","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: mandating Electronic Stability Control systems for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The scope has not expanded beyond this safety objective. The inclusion of alternative compliance pathways (UN Regulation 140 and Global Technical Regulation No. 8) is a standard administrative mechanism to reduce regulatory burden by recognising equivalent international standards, rather than an expansion of substantive scope."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple compliance pathways: manufacturers can choose between Appendix A technical requirements, UN Regulation 140/00, or Global Technical Regulation No. 8","7 specific exemptions listed for Global Technical Regulation No. 8 compliance (clause 7.2.1)","Cross-referencing to external standards: requires reference to UN R 140/00 and GTR No. 8, which are not reproduced in full","Defined vehicle categories (MA, MB, MC, NA) require reference to separate ADR Definitions standard","Nested conditional logic: applicability depends on vehicle category AND manufacture date AND whether it's a 'new model'","Partial incorporation of international standards – entire sections of Appendix A and UN standards are explicitly excluded (Sections 3, 4, 10-14 and multiple Annexes)","Substitution of defined terms: 'Approval Authority' becomes 'Administrator of Vehicle Standards', 'Technical Service' becomes 'Manufacturer'"],"plain_english_summary":"This law requires most new passenger cars and light goods vehicles built from 1 July 2019 to have Electronic Stability Control (ESC), forcing manufacturers to install systems that reduce skids and rollovers. It exempts heavy vehicles, motorcycles, trailers and buses, lets manufacturers meet equivalent international standards (UN R140 or GTR No.8) and removes non‑technical approval formalities, aligning Australia with global vehicle‑safety practice."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument specifies mandatory ESC requirements for certain new-model passenger and light goods vehicles from 1 July 2019 and permits existing vehicles to comply optionally or under prior ADRs. The text itself does not indicate an expansion or narrowing of scope beyond these stated applicability and exemption rules."},"complexity_factors":["Reference to external UN regulations with specific series/corrigenda and carve-outs (cl.7)","Differentiated applicability by ADR vehicle category and new-model date (cl.3 and applicability table)","Cross-references to Appendix A and to separate ADR definitions and vehicle categories (cl.4, Appendix A)","Partial disapplication of approval and conformity provisions and reliance on conformity-of-production assessments (cl.6)","Certification and verification duties placed on manufacturers/importers, creating compliance and testing burdens (cl.5, cl.6)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Standard requires electronic stability control (ESC) systems on passenger cars and light commercial vehicles of specified ADR categories produced as new models from 1 July 2019. Mechanically, it mandates ESC that meets Appendix A or equivalent UN technical regulations (cl.5, cl.7).\n\nIt assigns certification and conformity-of-production checks to manufacturers/importers (cl.5, cl.3), allows specified exemptions and alternative procedures (cl.6), and shifts compliance costs and verification burdens onto vehicle producers while giving the Administrator approval discretion."},"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"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017","history":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/vehicle-standard-australian-design-rule-88-00-electronic-stability-control-esc-systems-2017/documents"}}