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NSW brake testing transition phase extended

From January 31 next year heavy vehicles that fail to meet the brake force criteria will be issued with a defect notice

 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Road and Maritime Services (RMS) have decided to extend the ongoing brake testing transition arrangements in New South Wales to January 31 next year.

The transition phase, which was earlier due to end on September 30, allowed heavy vehicles that achieve a brake test result greater than 3kN/t, but less than 4.5kN/t, to be given an official warning on first time detection.

From January 31 next year heavy vehicles that fail to meet the brake force criteria of 4.5kN/t will be issued with a defect notice.

The project aims to achieve national consistency in vehicle standards through the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

“Together with Roads and Maritime and industry we have listened to operator concerns with the current roller brake test procedures and agreed to undertake further work to determine the best approach for testing,” NHVR director safety Daniel Elkins says.

“Until that research is completed it is appropriate that we extend the current roller brake transition period in NSW to 31 January 2017.

“The additional research will determine what factors adversely affect an accurate assessment of the overall braking performance of the heavy vehicle being tested.

“The NHVR encourages operators to regularly maintain their vehicles and take appropriate steps to ensure they exceed the standards in the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.”

The regulator says it will investigate whether a new set of brake test procedures is required.

The brake performance criteria are a part of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual (NHVIM) Version 2.1, which in turn is the first element of NHVR’s National Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program.

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