LED Lightbars, Driving Lights and the ADRs

[NowForThe5th]

The Federal Government recently introduced new Vehicle Standards in Australian Design Rule 13/00 which has been revised to cover, amongst other things, the new technology that is seen in lightbars.

Although the ADR is an over-riding legislation, interpretation is left to the States and this has created what may become something of a minefield in terms of what is actually legal where your vehicle is registered. I think it's worth having a separate thread so that members can keep up to date with the rules and avoid the possibility of running foul and copping a defect notice if their vehicle doesn't comply.

The biggest issue is placement and this now varies a bit from State to State. At this stage most States have decreed that lightbars cannot be fitted above the height of the headlights which rules out fitting on top of a bullbar or any kind of roof mounting.

So, for ACT, Victoria and WA the new rules basically mean that lightbars cannot be mounted on the roof or above the hoops on a bullbar. In SA mounting on the roof is acceptable (at least for now) while in Qld it is not specifically disallowed but, by implication may well be. NSW appears to be sitting on the fence at the moment.

Links to various legislation are:

ADR 13/00
https://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2015C00543

SA
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport-travel-and-motoring/motoring/vehicles-and-registration/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/lighting-and-instrumentation

https://www.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/76070/MR1517-LED-Light-Bars-Fact-Sheet-8.15.pdf

ACT
http://www.rego.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/621133/70,055-Headlights-and-Lamps-Info-Sheet.pdf

Victoria
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/vehicle-safety/fog-and-driving-lights

Queensland
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QFjADahUKEwiXvZ6ek6bHAhVDfaYKHVleA3c&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmr.qld.gov.au%2F~%2Fmedia%2FSafety%2FVehicle%2520standards%2520and%2520modifications%2FVehicle%2520standards%2FVehicle%2520standards%2520instructions%2FQCOP.pdf&ei=qpnMVZfANcP6mQXZvI24Bw&usg=AFQjCNGzCFs0pof_jEvGW1stNYjmSr68Jg&bvm=bv.99804247,d.dGY

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Vehicle-standards-and-modifications/Vehicle-standards/Vehicle-standards-guidelines-and-type-permits.aspx

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Safety/Vehicle%20standards%20and%20modifications/Vehicle%20standards/Vehicle%20standards%20instructions/drivinglampsvehiclesguidelinemay13.pdf

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/Safety/Vehicle%20standards%20and%20modifications/Vehicle%20standards/Vehicle%20standards%20instructions/L152Drivinglampsv3.pdf

.pdf version

L152Drivinglampsv3.pdf

WA
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/licensing/LBU_VS_IB_132A.pdf
Please post up any updates if you become aware of changes.

[buffhunt]

You missed.

Western Australia

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFil ... B_132A.pdf

[colin b]

That W.A. article is very clear and unambiguous. Someone probably got fired for that

I have yet to work out why anyone would want to mount driving lights on the roof anyway Maybe useful for spotting low-flying aircraft.

In any sort of rain or in dusty conditions they would put an impenetrable curtain of reflected light across the driver's field of vision and be downright dangerous.

[NowForThe5th]

You missed.

Western Australia

http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFil ... B_132A.pdf

So I did. Thanks. Fixed.

[Naff]

He didn't miss it, it was just happening much later than every other state.

[triton_guru]

I've very nearly been detected on 2 separate occasions for having a light bar on the rollbar

[schem81]

I got 4 spotties on the spots bar. Never had an issue.

[buffhunt]

He didn't miss it, it was just happening much later than every other state.

Thanks, I've just learnt to read posting dates now.

[Tony81]

Here is a link from Pat Callinan about the laws in. wA but as you can see from the comments it is still all a bit cinfusing

http://www.mr4x4.com.au/4x4-news-led-li ... ter+%23115

[jmjLc]

found this in racq mag concerning LED BARS transport & main roads qld has issued a vehicle standards instruction (general 15.0) that effectively permits use of led bars as driving lights, subject to certain fitting requirements .It means vehicles are exempted from complying with the relevant clause in aust design laws 13/00 that requires extra driving lights to be fitted in pairs(either 2 or 4 lamps ) .
Light bars maybe fitted in pairs , but only 1 or 3 or more are permitted, though in all cases they must be installed to the front of the vehicle & symmetrically around the vehicle centreline.
Like other driving lights, they must only operate when high beam is selected & extinguish automatically when the lights are dipped. They must be installed in a way that the light produced doesn't cause the driver of the vehicle any discomfort, either directly or by reflection .
This information applies to qld but may not be recognised in other states . We believe the NT , VIC, ACT, & SA have adopted similar positions & that ADR 13/00 will be amended to provide national alignment.
hope find interesting & answers some legal aspects

[NowForThe5th]

jmjLc, links for the various State regulations are in the first post of this thread. Have a read through those - I think you'll find your answers. There is more discussion in this thread, but much of it is out of date with the new ADRs having been released.

[Knuckle]

thanks for the post boys,

Been trying to find out if a led light bar on roof racks in NSW is legal or not?

Why cant they simply say yes or no.

Very confused.

Knuckle

[Cowboy Dave]

Pretty sure it's not legal due to the height.

[Hopeithurt]

http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw ... rr2007478/

for NSW it's buried in here and you can't have a "driving light" over 1200mm from the ground

[NowForThe5th]

I haven't been able to actually find this online but this exemption has been issued by RMS for NSW.

rms_factsheet_lights.png

Basically an exemption from the requirement that lights be fitted in pairs, so long as all other requirements are met, which would include the 1200mm height limit referred to above. So, looks like roof mounted bars are out in NSW, too.

[NowForThe5th]

Updated first post with link for Qld which confirms roof mounted LED bars are acceptable if mounted within front half of vehicle (which would make mounting on the sports bar not compliant).

[cjsxrt]

Where did you find that out 5th

[NowForThe5th]

http://www.newtriton.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18492&p=494246#p494246

[cjsxrt]

Yeah that link on the other page wont work for me

[Cowboy Dave]

Yeah that link on the other page wont work for me

I've uploaded the actual PDF for you in the other thread.

[cjsxrt]

Thanks dave

[NowForThe5th]

Hmmm. Link works fine here. Iceweasel/Firefox gives me a choice of downloading or opening in Document Viewer; Chrome just downloads automatically. But I do have the superior Linux operating system.

Have put the pdf in the first post as well.