Final Report, Canberra, July 2008, Viewed 5 November 2009, Ure.Pdf, P

Road Safety Committee Inquiry into the Process of Development, Adoption and Implementation of Australian Design Rules November 2009 Date of Adoption 9 November 2009 Inquiry into the Process of Development, Adoption and Implementation of Australian Design Rules Report of the Road Safety Committee on the Inquiry into the Process of Development, Adoption and Implementation of Australian Design Rules ORDERED TO BE PRINTED Victorian Government Printer 2009 Parliamentary Paper No. 259 Session 2006-2009 Parliament of Victoria Road Safety Committee Subject Australian Design Rules ISBN - 978-0-9751534-8-2 Table of Contents Committee Members .........................................................................i The Road Safety Committee ........................................................... iii Terms of Reference ..........................................................................v Chair’s Foreword .............................................................................vii Executive Summary .........................................................................xi Recommendations ..........................................................................xv Abbreviations and Definitions ......................................................xxi 1 - Introduction ..................................................................................1 Purpose and Context of the Inquiry ........................................................1 Conduct of the Inquiry .............................................................................2 Submissions and Hearings .........................................................................2 Impediments to the Inquiry .........................................................................3 Overview of the Australian Design Rules ...............................................3 Origins of the Australian Design Rules .......................................................3 Overview of the Australian Design Rules System .......................................4 Vehicle Certification ....................................................................................4 Organisations Involved with the Australian Design Rules Process .....6 National Organisations ...............................................................................6 International Organisations .........................................................................8 Summary of Findings ...............................................................................8 2 - Australian Design Rules Arrangements .................................. 13 History of Developing the Australian Design Rules ............................13 The Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 ....................................................14 The Inter-governmental Agreements of 1991 and 1992 ...........................15 The Inter-governmental Agreement of 2003 .............................................17 National Transport Commission and the Australian Design Rules ............18 Review of the National Transport Commission and the 2003 Inter- governmental Agreement .........................................................................20 The Expedited Australian Design Rules Process ......................................21 Stakeholder Evidence in Relation to Local Arrangements ........................21 Council for the Australian Federation ........................................................27 Conclusions ..............................................................................................28 Adoption and Implementation of the Australian Design Rules ..........31 Introduction ...............................................................................................31 Harmonisation ...........................................................................................31 Conclusions ..............................................................................................37 International Arrangements as a Source of Delay ....................................38 Local Arrangements as a Source of Delay ...............................................43 Bracks Review ..........................................................................................48 Summary of Findings .............................................................................50 3 - Worldwide Practices ................................................................. 60 Introduction .............................................................................................60 Europe .....................................................................................................61 Introduction ...............................................................................................61 The 1958 Agreement ................................................................................63 The 1998 Agreement ................................................................................65 Organisation of Working Party 29 .............................................................67 European Commission Directives and Whole Vehicle Type-Approval ......69 The Performance of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe System .........................................................................................71 Conclusions ..............................................................................................74 United States ...........................................................................................76 Introduction ...............................................................................................76 Self-Certification and Compliance Testing ................................................77 Development, Adoption and Implementation ............................................79 Efficiency and Effectiveness .....................................................................80 Crash Test Standards ...............................................................................87 Conclusions ..............................................................................................88 Japan .......................................................................................................89 Introduction ...............................................................................................89 Type-approval ...........................................................................................90 Process of Development, Adoption and Implementation ..........................90 Harmonisation with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ....92 Conclusions ..............................................................................................93 New Zealand ............................................................................................94 Introduction ...............................................................................................94 Timelines ..................................................................................................96 Vehicle Safety ...........................................................................................97 Conclusions ............................................................................................100 Comparison of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the United States Systems ..............................................101 Conclusions ..........................................................................................102 Summary of Findings ...........................................................................104 4 - Vehicle Safety and the Australian Design Rules .................. 118 The Australian Design Rules as Minimum Standards .......................118 Introduction .............................................................................................118 Reviews of the Australian Design Rules .................................................119 Decline in Minimum Standards ............................................................123 Australian Design Rules and Crashworthiness .......................................124 Support for the Status Quo .....................................................................128 Conclusions ............................................................................................129 Financial and Environmental Factors .................................................129 Emerging Manufacturers and Cheaper Vehicles ....................................130 Environmentally Friendly Vehicles ..........................................................132 Downsizing Trend ...................................................................................134 Conclusions ............................................................................................136 De-specification ....................................................................................136 Light Commercial Vehicles and Four-Wheel-Drives ..........................138 Vehicle Safety Features and Technologies ........................................139 Electronic Stability Control ......................................................................140 Side Curtain Airbags ...............................................................................145 Daytime Running Lights ..........................................................................146 Rear Seat Safety ....................................................................................148 Child Ride Height Marking ......................................................................149

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