G/TBT/N/AUS/108  
 
30 January 2018  
(18-0680) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member: AUSTRALIA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development  
Vehicle Safety Standards Branch  
GPO Box 594  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Email: standards@infrastructure.gov.au   
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Motor 
vehicles for the trans port of ten or more persons, including the driver. (HS 8702), Motor 
cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than 
those of heading 87.02), including station wagons and racing cars. (HS 8703), Motor 
vehicles for  the transport of goods. (HS 8704), Trailers and semi -trailers; other vehicles, 
not mechanically propelled; parts thereof. (HS 8716).  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Consultation 
Regulation Impact Statement (RIS): Natio nal Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy Phase II - 
Improving the Stability and Control of Heavy Vehicles (176 page(s), in English; 
59 page(s), in English; 41 page(s), in English)    
6. Description of content: The RIS considers a range of policy options to increase the 
fitment of stability control systems to heavy vehicles, in order to reduce heavy vehicle 
related road crash trauma. It recommends mandating of Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 
for new prime movers (truck tractors) greater than 12 tonnes Gros s Vehicle Mass (GVM) 
and new buses greater than 5 tonnes GVM, as well as Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) for 
new trailers greater than 4.5 tonnes Gross Trailer Mass (GTM), with the addition of Roll 
Stability Control (RSC) for new trailers greater than 10 tonn es GTM.  
The Consultation Draft Australian Design Rules (ADRs) 35 and 38 include draft technical 
requirements for implementation of the recommended option outlined in the RIS.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of human health or safety : The Australian Government is 
considering the case for mandating ESC for heavy trucks and buses, ABS for medium 
trailers and RSC for hea vy trailers, through the ADRs under the Motor Vehicle Standards 
Act 1989 . The objective is to reduce heavy vehicle related road crash trauma.  G/TBT/N/AUS/108  
 
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  There are currently around 220 people killed and a further 1750 people seriously injured 
(admitted to hospital) ea ch year from crashes involving heavy vehicles. This is costing the 
Australian community around $1.5 billion a year in road trauma.  
The RIS analysis indicates that implementation of this proposal would be likely to save 
over 120 lives and prevent over 1000 serious injuries.  
8. Relevant documents:   
As per 5 above. The relevant international standard is the United Nations Regulation 
No. 13 - Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles of Categories M, N and O 
with Regard to Braking.  
The ADR would include minor deviations to address particular safety issues that are unique 
to the Australian heavy vehicle fleet.   
9. Proposed date of adoption: TBC 
Proposed date of entry into force: From 1 July 2019 or later  
10. Final date for comments: 9 March 2018  
11. Texts available from: National enquiry point [  ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development  
Vehicle Safety Standards Branch  
GPO Box 594  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Email: standards@infrastructure.gov.au  
Also available until 2 February 2018 from:  
Web: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/motor/design/adr_comment.aspx  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/TBT/AUS/18_0321_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/TBT/AUS/18_0321_01_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2018/TBT/AUS/18_0321_02_e.pdf