September 2006
New Rules for heavy-vehicles brakes and vehicle exhaust emissions and
amendment to rule for traffic control devices
The Minister for Transport Safety, Hon. Harry Duynhoven, recently signed three new Rules –
a conversion and review of existing legislation, a revision of an existing Rule and an
amendment to an existing Rule.
1. Land Transport Rule: Heavy-vehicle Brakes 2006 (Rule 32015)
What is the purpose of this Rule?
The main purpose of the Rule is to reduce the number of road crashes caused by brake
defects in heavy vehicles. Police and Land Transport NZ data shows that brake defects
cause or contribute to more crashes than any other type of heavy vehicle defect. The Rule
will encourage the use of advanced brake technology that can significantly improve heavy
vehicle safety. The Rule also makes provision for an improved brake test during regular inservice certificate of fitness (CoF) inspections of heavy vehicles.
What changes does the Rule make and which vehicles will they affect?
The Rule sets out requirements aimed at ensuring that heavy vehicles and heavy-vehicle
combinations can brake safely, with balanced brake performance, at any road-legal load
condition. It applies to all heavy vehicles ie, those with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) that
exceeds 3500 kg. It does not apply to articulated vehicles with a GVM exceeding 3500 kg if
the GVM of each vehicle in the combination is less than 3500 kg.
The Rule will ensure that the brakes of domestically manufactured and modified vehicles
meet equivalent requirements to those of imported vehicles. Brakes of all heavy vehicles will
be tested in a way that evaluates performance for the laden condition, instead of unladen as
at present, to help identify brake defects and improve maintenance standards. All heavy
vehicles used in combination, that are first registered or modified in New Zealand from 1 July
2008, will have to be fitted with Load Sensing Valves or an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
When does the Rule come into force?
The Rule’s provisions start to apply on 1 March 2007 except, as indicated above, for those
provisions relating to the introduction of better technology, which apply from 1 July 2008.
2. Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2006 (Rule 33001/1)
What is the purpose of this Rule?
This Rule revises and replaces Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Exhaust Emissions 2003 (the
2003 Rule) by including requirements for the in-service checking of vehicles for visible
smoke. The visible smoke check will build on existing measures to control emissions and
improve air quality by identifying and, if necessary, removing from the fleet, vehicles that are
gross polluters. Overseas testing has shown a correlation between visible smoke emissions
and the emission of harmful pollutants. The Rule complements Police enforcement of the
existing ‘10-second smoky vehicle rule’, which applies only to vehicles when operating on a
road.
The 2003 Rule specifies vehicle exhaust emission manufacturing standards that vehicles
must have been built to before they are certified for use on New Zealand’s roads. The
revised Rule defers the application date for one of those standards – the Euro 4 standard.
This change will prevent problems with the supply of new heavy diesel vehicles by New
Zealand vehicle importers as a result of the late adoption by the European Union of the Euro
4 emission standard. It will also allow time to ensure that a supply of urea is available in New
Zealand to ensure that vehicles manufactured overseas with engines that operate with urea
(to reduce emissions) are able to comply with Euro 4.
What are the changes, when do they apply and who will they affect?
Smoky vehicle test. Vehicle inspectors and certifiers will carry out a simple, subjective test on
vehicles that present for a warrant of fitness (WoF) or certificate of fitness (CoF) inspection. If
a vehicle fails it will have to be repaired before it will be allowed back on the road. The
requirements will take effect when the Rule comes into force on 27 October 2006.
The requirements will apply to the owners of vehicles registered in New Zealand that are
required by Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 to be certified for
entry, re-entry or operation in service. They won’t apply to vehicles that are exempt from
vehicle inspection or that are listed in the Rule as being a vehicle to which the Rule does not
apply. In addition, the Rule does not apply to historic and other vehicles that produce a low
level of smoke when operating, if their owners prove that the engine is original equipment for
the vehicle and the engine’s design means that the vehicle cannot reasonably comply.
Euro 4 standard. Euro 4 will now apply to new-model or existing-model heavy-duty diesel
vehicles (ie, more than 3500 kg) manufactured on or after 1 January 2008 and 1 January
2009 respectively. The respective application dates in the 2003 Rule were 1 January 2007
and 1 January 2008.
3. Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices Amendment 2006 (Rule 54002/2)
What is the purpose of this amendment Rule?
This amendment Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Traffic Control Devices 2004 in order to
correct some errors and clarify provisions.
What changes does the amendment Rule make and who will they affect?
The changes made by amendment Rule include allowing fixed signs to be used at ramp
signals instead of variable signs, which have a higher risk of failure than fixed signs and
potential for vandalism or damage; clarifying provisions relating to pedestrian crossings and
pedestrian traffic signals, and to school bus signs; amending definitions and inserting new
traffic signs and amending existing signs and markings in the Rule schedules. These
changes will largely affect road controlling authorities, and will also apply to school bus
operators.
When does this amendment Rule come into force?
This amendment Rule starts to apply on 6 October 2006.
4. Where can I get copies of these Rules?
These three Rules are available (in bound format) at selected bookshops that sell legislation,
or direct from Wickliffe Limited, freephone 0800 226 440. Wickliffe also offers a standing
order service for Rules in loose-leaf format.
5. How can I get more information about the Rules?
Check out the Land Transport NZ website for the Questions and Answers (Vehicle Exhaust
Emissions and Heavy-vehicle Brakes only) or, for further information on all three Rules,
contact the Land Transport NZ Help Desk on 0800 699 000.