In early June the Federal Department of Infrastructure advised HVIA via the Vehicle Standards Consultative Forum (VSCF) that it had finalised a series of amendments to several ADRs and collated them into an amendment instrument. The Department is now seeking feedback on the changes up to June 16, 2025.
Why are these amendments required? Despite the extensive drafting and review process for every ADR, they are not without errors and omissions and sometimes require changes to clarify confusing items. Amendment instruments are occasionally employed by the Department to rectify a set of known issues and are done in a group to save time.
A total of nine ADRs are set to be improved by the amendment instrument, as well as the ADR definitions themselves, as listed below. A number of these ADRs are of interest to HVIA members.
Crucially, the changes will not increase the stringency of the amended ADRs and there will be negligible change in regulatory burden.
> Definitions and Vehicle Categories;
> Seats and Seat Anchorages – ADR 3/04 and 3/04;
> Anchorages for Seatbelts – ADR 5/04;
> Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices on other than L-Group Vehicles – ADR 13/00;
> Installation of Lighting and Light Signalling Devices on L-Group Vehicles – ADR 19/02;
> Passenger Car Tyres – ADR 23/01;
> General Safety Requirements – ADR 42/04 and 42/05;
> Specific Purpose Vehicle Requirements – ADR 44/02;
> Engine Immobilisers – ADR 82/00; and
> Front Underrun Impact Protection – ADR 84/00.
HVIA is reviewing the changes and will provide feedback to the Department prior to the deadline of June 16 and will seek feedback from specific members as needed.
Members wishing to understand the detail on any of the proposed changes to any of the listed ADRs are invited to contact HVIA Chief Technical Officer Adam Ritzinger at a.ritzinger@hvia.asn.au.