The Albanese Government and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are backing a safer, cleaner heavy vehicle industry by implementing the Safer Freight Vehicles reforms.
As part of these reforms, heavy vehicles of up to 2.55 metres wide will now be provided with general access to Australia’s road network.
Wider vehicles are required to be fitted with additional safety features, including an enhanced set of devices for indirect vision, stability control, advanced emergency braking, lane departure warning, side underrun protection, and conspicuity markings.
The implementation of the Safer Freight Vehicles reforms is a significant step forward for heavy vehicle operators, with this increased general width limit now reflected in the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
This follows the Albanese Government making changes to the Australian Design Rules last October to allow an increase in the maximum width of heavy vehicles fitted with the most modern safety features, from 2.50 to 2.55 metres.
The NHVR will now start working with key industry associations to develop a process to allow existing vehicles already in-service to be certified as Safer Freight Vehicles, given only new vehicles are currently eligible. This process is expected to be finalised in early 2025.
