Truck Rules Apply

[Dot]

got this from caravan mag.

Words by Joseph Van Woerkom

In this issue I thought we’d have a look at the latest Australian Road Rules (ARR 02/2012) and how they affect RVers. The first thing to note is that this document’s definition of a ‘vehicle’ also includes a ‘combination’ (Rule 15) and therefore the term GVM also includes GCM. Weird, I know.

Then there’s the definition of a ‘heavy vehicle’. Rule 21 states that any vehicle/combination over 5 tonnes is a ‘heavy vehicle’ but Rule 200 reduces this to 4.5 tonnes. This means that your rig may or may not be a ‘heavy vehicle’ depending upon which rule is in force. Ridiculous!

The AAR also define a ‘truck’ to be a motor vehicle with a GVM over 4.5 tonnes, except a bus, tram or tractor. Because ‘vehicle’ includes ‘combination’ your rig is considered a ‘truck’ if the GVM/GCM is over 4.5 tonnes.

Finally, Rules 28, 127 and 200 define any vehicle (including a combination) which is over 7.5m as a ‘long vehicle’.

So how does all this affect RVers?

First, the speed at which you are permitted to travel may be lower than the posted speed limit. This is because the ARR supersede state and territory road rules (unless explicitly overruled in the state/territory road rules) and ARR Rule 15 restricts ‘heavy’ vehicles to 100km/h. Not that this should be a problem because I reckon that these heavy rigs should be travelling no more than 90-95km/h anyway.

Next, if your rig is classified as a ‘truck’ because it is over 4.5 tonne GVM/GCM, you must obey ‘NO TRUCKS’ signs. This means that you are not permitted to proceed past a ‘NO TRUCKS’ sign unless your GVM/GCM and/or length is less than that displayed on the sign. If the sign does not display a mass or length limit, no ‘truck’ is permitted to drive past the sign. However, you may pass these signs if your destination requires you to travel on that piece of road.

Then there’s the ‘TRUCK & BUS LANE’ signs. By now it won’t surprise you to learn that if your GVM/GCM is over 4.5 tonne then you must use the truck and bus lane until a sign indicates that the lane has ended. You must also obey ‘TRUCKS MUST ENTER’ and ‘TRUCKS & BUSES MUST USE LOW GEAR’ signs.

But perhaps the most surprising of all are the parking restrictions. Firstly, a heavy or long vehicle must not stop on a length of road that is not in a built-up area, except on the shoulder of the road. This is fair enough, but did you know that heavy or long vehicles are not permitted to park in a built-up area for more than one hour (unless the driver is engaged in dropping off, or picking up, goods)? What do you do when you need to do some shopping

[Mrcoolabah1au]

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[Dot]

Could that be taken as "confused" Wayne??

[norman]

Thats Australia.......

[BruceS]

A heavy vehicle is a heavy vehicle ........
You can't have it both ways. At least you don't need a logbook like other heavy vehicles!!
That'd sure upset a few!

[Chuck]

So far...!

[T1 Terry]

What until they bring in the "definition of a ‘vehicle’ also includes a ‘combination’ (Rule 15) and therefore the term GVM also includes GCM" then all caravans except maybe teardrops will fall into the heavy vehicle category, complete with licence requirements and weigh bridge entry won't the faeces hit the rotary oscillator then A 3 tonne GVM van towed by a 4.5 tonne GVM vehicle is a 7.5 tonne GCM rig and that is a heavy vehicle. You may notice some of the auto weigh bridges have lowered the weight min to 7 tonnes, some even to 5 tonnes.... the writing is on the wall, too many caravan roll overs for the system to be able to turn a blind eye for much longer, they know the Baby Boomers will be hitting the roads in ever greater numbers and many of them battle driving a gas lift chair and a biro, got the licence back in the early '70's and have travelled by train and bus most of the time as they didn't really need a car, now they want to hit the road in the 7.5 tonne heavy vehicle using the same licence they got in mums shopping car way back then without any further skill up grading or testing required.... not on and it has been not on for a very long time, now the law will finally catch up

[bagmaker]

And they will all be spending a squillion on your book about LiFePo4 power, T1 !

[T1 Terry]

And they will all be spending a squillion on your book about LiFePo4 power, T1 !

As if Better they are trained in how to pack a van properly and how to safely tow the thing, if it turns turtle with lithium batteries in it the lithium batteries will be blamed for sure

Check this one out, motorhoming in India seems to be a high speed event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyigRrMYeuI at about the 5:28 sec mark the driver says they have just passed the 135km/h mark, there is a smoke puff from the Volvo bus and then it continues to increase speed.... they were shifting up a gear

[generdawg]

I thought that motor vehicles UNDER 4.5 tonne GVM could be operated with a class "C" license.

But what rooly annoys me is the 3t limit!

3t Limit.jpg