Dangerous goods tankers built on or after July 1 must have ESC fitted to gain road access in NSW.
Dangerous goods vehicles manufactured on or after July 1 without electronic stability control will be banned from New South Wales roads.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week amended the regulations governing dangerous goods to slot in the provision.
The move is in response to a 2011 coronial recommendation that dangerous goods vehicles be fitted with the technology.
EPA Director of Hanzardous Incidents and Environmental Health Craig Lamberton used a letter to informed industry of the change.
“The national dangerous goods Competent Authorities Panel (CAP) has given in-principal support for the fitting of electronic stability control to new dangerous goods tank trailers,” the letter states.
“The EPA has given effect to this in NSW by making a Determination under the
NSW Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail) Regulation 2009 which prohibits the use in NSW of dangerous goods tank trailers, manufactured on or after 1 July 2014, that are not fitted with electronic stability control.”
Lamberton says the ESC requirement applies to all tank trailers greater than 4.5 tonnes and includes semi-trailers, B-double trailers and dog trailers.
“Stability control on dangerous goods vehicles is consistent with good industry practice both here and internationally,” he says.
Mandatory ESC for some dangerous goods vehicles has strong support from the trucking lobby.
Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Chairman David Simon last year recommended the measure as part of a suite of options government could pursue to improve industry safety and accountability.
“In my view, it would not be necessary to impose this requirement on all vehicles carrying dangerous goods. It should not, for example, apply to trucks carrying domestic cleaning products in retail packaging as part of a larger load,” Simon told attendees of the 2013 Technical Maintenance Conference.
“We should, however, urgently look at applying it to trucks carrying bulk loads of flammable or combustible liquids, explosives and radioactive substances.”