National Transport Commission (Road Transport Legislation – Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2006
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50 millimetre kingpin means a kingpin meeting the dimension requirements for a 50 millimetre kingpin in Australian Standard AS 2175–1990, Articulated Vehicles—Kingpins.
75 millimetre kingpin means a kingpin with the dimensions mentioned in rule 165(3).
90 millimetre kingpin means a kingpin meeting the dimension requirements for a 90 millimetre kingpin in Australian Standard AS 2175–1990, Articulated Vehicles—Kingpins.
adopted standard—see rule 24.
ADR—see rule 14.
air brake means an air‑operated or air‑assisted brake.
articulated bus means a bus with at least 2 rigid sections that allow passengers access between the sections and are connected to allow rotary movement between the sections.
Australian Standard means a standard approved for publication on behalf of the Council of the Standards Association of Australia.
Note: Copies of Australian Standards are available from offices of the Standards Association of Australia.
axle means 1 or more shafts, positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which 1 or more wheels intended to support the vehicle turn.
axle group means a single, tandem, twinsteer, tri, or quad axle group.
B‑double means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 2 semi‑trailers.
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B‑double
braking system, of a vehicle, means all the brakes of the vehicle and all the components of the mechanisms by which they are operated.
British Standard means a standard approved for publication on behalf of the British Standards Institution.
Note: Copies of British Standards are available from offices of the Standards Association of Australia.
British Standards Institution means the institution of that name established under royal charter in the United Kingdom.
bus means a motor vehicle built mainly to carry people that seats over 9 adults (including the driver).
car means a motor vehicle built mainly to carry people that:
(a) seats not over 9 adults (including the driver); and
(b) has a body commonly known as a sedan, station wagon, coupe, convertible, or roadster; and
(c) has 4 or more wheels.
centre line, of an axle group, means:
(a) if the group consists of 2 axles, one of which is fitted with twice the number of tyres as the other axle—a line located one‑third of the way from the centre line of the axle with more tyres towards the centre line of the axle with fewer tyres; and
(b) in any other case—a line located midway between the centre lines of the outermost axles of the group.
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Centre line of a tandem axle group fitted with an equal number of tyres on each axle
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Centre line of a tandem axle group fitted with a different number of tyres on each axle
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Centre line of a tri axle group
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Centre line of a quad axle group
combination means a group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle connected to 1 or more vehicles.
controlled access bus means a bus, except an articulated bus, over 12.5 metres long.
converter dolly means a trailer with 1 axle group or single axle, and a fifth wheel coupling, designed to convert a semi‑trailer into a dog trailer.
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Converter dolly
daylight means the period in a day from sunrise to sunset.
dog trailer means a trailer (including a trailer consisting of a semi‑trailer and converter dolly) with:
(a) 1 axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by connection to the towing vehicle by a drawbar; and
(b) 1 axle group or single axle at the rear.
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Dog trailer
drawbar means a part of a trailer (except a semi‑trailer) connecting the trailer body to a coupling for towing purposes.
drive includes be in control of.
driver, of a vehicle, means the person driving the vehicle.
emergency brake means a brake designed to be used if a service brake fails.
emergency vehicle means a vehicle that is an emergency vehicle for the Vehicle Standards under a law of this jurisdiction.
fifth wheel coupling means a device, except the upper rotating element and the kingpin (which are parts of a semi‑trailer), used with a prime mover, semi‑trailer, or converter dolly, to allow quick coupling and uncoupling and to provide for articulation.
front fog light means a light used to improve the illumination of the road in case of fog, snowfall, heavy rain or a dust storm.
GCM or gross combination mass of a motor vehicle means the greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of the motor vehicle and any vehicle or vehicles that may be towed by it at the same time:
(a) as specified by the motor vehicle’s manufacturer on an identification plate on the motor vehicle; or
(b) if there is no such specification on an identification plate on the motor vehicle, or there is such a specification on a plate on the motor vehicle but the specification is not appropriate because the motor vehicle has been modified—as certified by the registration authority.
GTM (gross trailer mass) means the mass transmitted to the ground by the axles of a trailer when the trailer is loaded to its GVM and connected to a towing vehicle.
GVM, for a vehicle, means the maximum loaded mass of the vehicle:
(a) specified by the manufacturer on an identification plate on the vehicle; or
(b) if there is no specification by the manufacturer on an identification plate on the vehicle or the specification is not appropriate because the vehicle has been modified—certified by the vehicle registration authority.
high‑beam, for a headlight or front fog light fitted to a vehicle, means that the light is built or adjusted so, when the vehicle is standing on level ground, the top of the main beam of light projected is above the low‑beam position.
left, for a vehicle, means to the left of the centre of the vehicle when viewed by a person in the vehicle who is facing to the front of the vehicle.
low‑beam, for a headlight or front fog light fitted to a vehicle, means that the light is built or adjusted so, when the vehicle is standing on level ground, the top of the main beam of light projected is:
(a) not higher than the centre of the headlight or fog light, when measured 8 metres in front of the vehicle; and
(b) not over 1 metre higher than the level where the motor vehicle is standing, when measured 25 metres in front of the vehicle.
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A headlight in the low‑beam position
Ministerial Council means the Ministerial Council for Road Transport established by the Heavy Vehicles Agreement, a copy of which is set out in Schedule 1 to the National Road Transport Commission Act 1991 of the Commonwealth.
moped means a motor bike or trike with an engine cylinder capacity of not over 50 millilitres and a maximum speed of not over 50 kilometres an hour.
motor bike means a motor vehicle with 2 wheels, and includes a 2‑wheeled motor vehicle with a sidecar attached to it that is supported by a third wheel.
motor trike means a motor vehicle with 3 wheels, but does not include a 2‑wheeled motor vehicle with a sidecar attached to it that is supported by a third wheel.
motor vehicle means a vehicle built to be propelled by a motor that forms part of the vehicle.
mudguard means a fitting or device, with or without a mudflap, that is built and fitted to a vehicle in a way that will, as far as practicable, catch or deflect downwards any stone, mud, water, or other substance, thrown up by the rotation of the wheel to which the fitting or device is fitted.
national standard—see rule 15.
point of articulation means:
(a) the axis of a kingpin for a fifth wheel; or
(b) the vertical axis of rotation of a fifth wheel coupling; or
(c) the vertical axis of rotation of a turntable assembly; or
(d) the vertical axis of rotation of the front axle group, or single axle, of a dog trailer; or
(e) the coupling pivot point of a semi trailer.
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Point of articulation—fifth wheel coupling on a converter dolly (forming the front axle group of a dog trailer)
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Point of articulation—fifth wheel on a prime mover
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Point of articulation—kingpin for fifth wheel
pole‑type trailer means a trailer that:
(a) is attached to a towing vehicle by a pole, or an attachment fitted to the pole; and
(b) is ordinarily used for transporting loads, such as logs, pipes, structural members, or other long objects, that can generally support themselves like beams between supports.
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Pole‑type trailer
police vehicle means a vehicle driven by a police officer in the course of his or her duty.
prime mover means a motor vehicle built to tow a semi‑trailer.
quad axle group means a group of 4 axles in which the horizontal distance between the centre lines of the outermost axles is over 3.2 metres, but not over 4.9 metres.
rear fog light means a light used on a vehicle to make it more easily visible from the rear in dense fog.
rear overhang, of a vehicle, means the distance between the rear overhang line and the rear of the vehicle.
rear overhang line, of a vehicle, 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 line of the axle group, decided without regard to the presence of any steerable axle unless all axles in the group are steerable.
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Rear overhang and rear overhang line—vehicle with tri axle group at rear
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Rear overhang and rear overhang line—motor vehicle
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Rear overhang and rear overhang line—semi‑trailer
repeater horn means a device that makes a sound alternating between different tones or frequencies on a regular time cycle.
right, for a vehicle, means to the right of the centre of the vehicle when viewed by a person in the vehicle who is facing to the front of the vehicle.
road—see rule 8.
road‑related area—see rule 9.
road tank vehicle has the same meaning as in the sixth edition of the Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road and Rail.
road train means a combination, except a B‑double, consisting of a motor vehicle towing at least 2 trailers (counting as a single trailer a converter dolly supporting a semi‑trailer).
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Road train
second edition ADR—see rule 17.
semi‑trailer means a trailer (including a pole‑type trailer) that has:
(a) 1 axle group or single axle to the rear; and
(b) a means of attachment to a prime mover that results in some of the load being imposed on the prime mover.
service brake, for a vehicle, means the brake normally used to decelerate the vehicle.
single axle means an axle not forming part of an axle group.
single axle group means a group of at least 2 axles in which the horizontal distance between the centre lines of the outermost axles is under 1 metre.
spring brake means a brake using 1 or more springs to store the energy needed to operate the brake.
Standards Association of Australia means the association of that name incorporated in Australia under royal charter.
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 over 2 metres.
tare mass of a vehicle means its unladen mass (however described).
third edition ADR—see rule 18.
transport enforcement vehicle means a vehicle that is a transport enforcement vehicle for the Vehicle Standards under a law of this jurisdiction.
trailer means a vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a motor vehicle, but does not include a motor vehicle that is being towed.
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 over 2 metres, but not over 3.2 metres.
turntable means a bearing built to carry vertical and horizontal loads, but does not allow quick separation of its upper and lower rotating elements, and that is used to connect and allow articulation between:
(a) a prime mover and semi‑trailer; or
(b) the steering axle or axle group of a dog trailer and the body of the trailer; or
(c) a fifth wheel coupling and the vehicle to which it is mounted.
twinsteer axle group means a group of 2 axles:
(a) with single tyres; and
(b) fitted to a motor vehicle and connected to the same steering mechanism; and
(c) the horizontal distance between the centre lines of which is at least 1 metre, but not over 2 metres.
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Twinsteer axle group on a motor vehicle
vacuum brakes means vacuum‑operated or vacuum‑assisted brakes.
vehicle includes the equipment fitted to, or forming part of, the vehicle.
VSB is the abbreviation for Vehicle Standards Bulletin.
Note: The Vehicle Standard Bulletins provide information on the design, manufacture, sale, modification, maintenance, import and repair of road vehicles. The term ‘road vehicles’ includes both motor vehicles and trailers. The Bulletins are available from the Department of Transport and Regional Services.