Heavy vehicles of up to 2.55 metres wide will now be provided with general access to Australia’s road network.
This follows the Albanese government making changes to the Australian Design Rules last October to allow an increase in the maximum width of heavy vehicles fitted with the most modern safety features, from 2.5 to 2.55 metres.
The NHVR said it will now start working with key industry associations to develop a process to allow existing vehicles already in-service to be certified as Safer Freight Vehicles, given only new vehicles are currently eligible. This process is expected to be finalised in early 2025.
The width reforms are now in place for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory.
“This announcement is a gamechanger for both operators and manufacturers, and will ensure the safest vehicles are available in Australia, helping keep all road users safe,” said NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto.
“As a modern and progressive regulator, the NHVR wants to ensure heavy vehicles are equipped with the latest safety technology, and make sure there are no regulatory barriers when it comes to manufacturers identifying and installing new systems.”
Assistant Infrastructure and Transport Minister Carol Brown said the announcement is a collaborative effort from the Australian Government, NHVR, states and territories, and importantly, the heavy vehicle industry.
“The Australian Government heard industry’s concerns that the previous width limits were a barrier to them installing critical safety technologies, and we have acted,” Brown said.
“By granting general access to vehicles up to 2.55 metres wide, we are promoting the highest level of road safety, supporting truckies to do their vital work more safely.”
Wider vehicles are required to be fitted with additional safety features, including an enhanced set of devices for indirect vision, stability control, advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, side underrun protection, and conspicuity markings.
And all roads need the same increase with no soft edges!
How is adding an extra 5cm on truck width a “game changer”
Sal Petrocitto!…
He probably hasn’t realised yet that moving freight also relies on adequate road networks, and the majority of those are almost as pathetic as the NHVR.
Still not sure how a supposedly self funded corporate entity is in any way beneficial to the industry, especially given the revenue that they’ve raped from it since their inception…but hey, the spin doctors are always at work in an attempt to justify their existence