DRIVE Autumn 2022 Edition

AUTUMN 2022

Image copyright Simon Freeman 2019

INSIDE: General News Bus Industry Vehicle Safety Vehicle Programs Historic & Classic Cars Vehicle Operations Road Safety

GENERAL NEWS

Transitional Period for Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 extended The transitional period for the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) has been extended by 12 months. The RVSA replaced previous legislation on 1 July 2021 and provided a 12-month transition period. This has been extended to 24 months, ending 30 June 2023 (and to 30 June 2024 for Special Purpose Vehicles excluding trailers).

There are sections of the industry that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and by global supply chain issues which have made the transition to the RVSA requirements challenging.

The extension provides more time for industry to transition their operations and supports them in ensuring they can start full RVSA operations by 1 July 2023.

Any providers that have already transitioned will be able to continue operating under the RVSA legislation.

Vehicle registration goes digital

For more information about the transitional and RVSA arrangements, visit the Commonwealth Website or the Transport for NSW page for more guidance.

We’ve made it even easier for our customers to renew their registration. If they switch to our new Digital Vehicle Registration service they will get rego renewal reminders by email, alerts in the Service NSW app and in their MyServiceNSW Account.

They will get reminders 6 weeks and 2 weeks before registration is due and the day after it’s due. They will also be able to access their digital Certificate of Registration in their MyService NSW Account at any time.

Searching for rego papers will be a thing of the past because all their registration details and due dates will be in their MyServiceNSW Account.

The service is optional so customers will continue to receive a paper renewal notice unless they opt-in.

To find out more visit Digital Vehicle Registration online.

Don’t miss out, sign-up now for DRIVE Stay informed about road safety and regulation updates for heavy vehicle, bus and auto industries.

Trivia Answer: 1939 Packard

Enhancing Mobile Safety Check Inspections mSafety system Following the success of the Mobile Pink Slips Trial, Transport for NSW (Transport) wants to make Mobile Safety Check Inspections more attractive to examiners and available to more customers.

(including trailers, caravans and motorbikes).

Other enhancements are also being considered such as offline capability for examiners to capture inspections when outside of internet connectivity areas.

With Mobile Pink Slips, drivers do not have to present their vehicle at an authorised station as the examiner comes to the driver’s location.

The examiner cannot charge more for the pinkslip than that charged at an authorised station, however they may charge a call-out fee.

Customers who are interested in using the mobile safety check service can check our website for details and available providers. For AIS proprietors and examiners who would like to participate in this program, visit us online for details and how to apply.

Transport is looking to extend the mSafety system to enable mobile safety check inspections (Pink Slips) to be carried out for all light vehicle types

We will keep you updated in the coming months on the improvements to this service.

STAY CONNECTED Connect with us on social media to keep up-to-date on announcements, safety initiatives, community projects and news that impacts your industry.

BUS INDUSTRY

BusNSW regional seminars with Shirley Wilson Shirley Wilson, our Bus Safety Officer, is a dedicated Transport representative helping accredited bus operators and drivers to understand their responsibilities and meet compliance obligations under the legislation and the Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS).

Through leadership, education and guidance, Shirley helps to ensure operators have appropriate systems and tools in place to prevent bus safety incidents and crashes within NSW. She also liaises with representatives from other states and territories to share bus safety information at a national level.

In March and April this year, Shirley presented at the BusNSW regional seminars on the following topics: • How the Bus Operator Accreditation (BOAS) performed in Quarter 4, 2021 for the independent audit results, bus incident data and the heavy vehicle compliance data • Enhancements to the Digital Annual SelfAssessment Report released in December 2021 and understanding the changes to the questions

• Transport for NSW joining the Automatic Mutual Recognition scheme called JobPass for bus drivers from 1 July 2022. JobPass will allow NSW bus drivers to work across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and Northern Territory without the usual interstate licence applications or fees • Important reminders for bus operators to help them understand and meet their requirements under BOAS. Transport is committed to engaging, supporting and communicating with the bus industry. We thank BusNSW for providing an opportunity for attendees to hear firsthand the issues facing the bus industry and to have face-to-face conversations about their concerns.

New safety guide for bus breakdowns The new Bus Breakdown Guide and video will provide valuable safety assistance to bus operators across Australia.

The Guide aims to address one of the most common hazards in the bus and coach industry - roadside bus breakdowns. It provides practical guidance for bus operators, bus drivers, maintenance staff and emergency assistance providers.

It is important to ensure the bus industry is well prepared to follow best practices when managing roadside bus breakdowns due to the

added risk to passengers which often includes school children.

The guide was developed in close consultation with the Bus Industry Confederation and other state bus associations. The process involved a committee that included representatives of bus operators.

The Guide will be available to all members of the Bus Australia Network. You can access an online version of the Guide and video via a dedicated page on the Bus Industry Confederation’s Moving People website.

VEHICLE SAFETY Takata Recall almost complete Transport is managing the Takata airbag recall - the most significant compulsory recall in Australia’s history. Faulty Takata airbags have caused 33 deaths and over 350 injuries and have affected approximately 100 million vehicles worldwide.

Starting with the highest risk cases, vehicle brands have been contacting owners of vehicles fitted with the faulty airbags and replacing them Transport has sent recall letters to affected vehicle owners advising of the risk and how to have their airbags replaced.

For the vehicles that are yet to have their airbags replaced, Transport has issued a vehicle suspension, which will be lifted when the owner has ensured their vehicle is safely fitted with new airbags.

As of March 2022, 90 per cent of Australian vehicles fitted with the faulty Takata airbags have had them replaced.

Please visit the recall website to find out if a vehicle has been affected and needs an airbag replacement.

VEHICLE SAFETY Introducing the Regulatory Compliance & Investigations Team In the Summer edition of DRIVE, we started to introduce some of our teams that collectively work to ensure vehicle safety. In this edition, we introduce one more. The Regulatory Compliance & Investigations team conducts risk-based audits and investigations across a wide range of Regulatory Programs, including: • Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) • Vehicle Safety Compliance Certification Scheme (VSCCS) • Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA) • Bus Operator Accreditation Scheme (BOAS) • Other licence and registration related matters The team has officers located across the state and conducts compliance reviews and enquiries on site and remotely. Outcomes of our audits and investigation activity may result in sanctions and/or prosecutions of regulatory participants and individuals.

Buying a motor vehicle: important pre-purchase checks Buying and maintaining a motor vehicle can be costly. Knowing what to look for could mean the difference between an enjoyable customer experience and an expensive mistake.

Old vehicles that have not been well maintained pose a significant risk along with vehicles that have been involved in a prior crash and have not been repaired properly.

Transport is asking industry to recommend car buyers consider obtaining pre-purchase inspections along with a safety inspection.

Before a vehicle is purchased it is important for

the vehicle to be thoroughly inspected. Prepurchase inspections identify problems and assess a car’s value more accurately.

These checks are recommended for all vehicle sales whether private, dealer purchase or auction (where possible).

Vehicle safety is an effective measure to eliminate some of the key contributors to road trauma and reduce road deaths and serious injuries.

For more information on buying a vehicle, please visit the Service NSW website.

The importance of EV and H safety labels Emergency safety crews need to know if an electric, hybrid or hydrogen car is involved in a crash on the road. Clearly displaying an EV or H label on the vehicle allows them to use the right safety measures.

As of 1 January 2021, EV and H labels for all electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles are compulsory in NSW. Under the regulation, all vehicles must be fitted with the appropriate EV or H label on both front and rear number plates.

In March, Transport partnered with the Point-toPoint Commission as part of Operation Evolve to ensure all electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles were properly labelled. In total 123 vehicles were inspected, and 13 defect notices were issued.

Customers who have an electric, hybrid or hydrogen vehicle without an EV or H label, please follow this guide to correctly attach one.

More information can be found on how to source and affix labels here.

Operation Evolve Operation Evolve was setup to address electric vehicle safety label (EV label) noncompliance in the Point-to-Point industry.

In March, the Point-to-Point Transport Commission targeted non-compliant taxi and rideshare vehicles and operators who did not have the safety labels affixed to their vehicles. Activities were conducted at Lime St in the Sydney CBD and two locations at Sydney Airport.

Key Outcomes · 123 Vehicles were inspected · 13 Vehicle Defect Notices were issued on various safety concerns including tyres, lights, body panels, window tint and EV labels.

EV labels were supplied to 35 vehicles which was well received by operators. Further engagement will need to be done to educate the industry on the importance of EV safety labels on their hybrid and electric vehicle fleets.

VEHICLE PROGRAMS

Exemption applied for emissions testing Transport has approved a six-month exemption for the emissions testing requirement for modified or individually constructed vehicles. The exemption period, which started on 6 April 2022, will allow Transport to consider a better and fairer way to make sure vehicles are compliant with emissions requirements.

When the exemption has expired, Transport may direct customers to submit their vehicle for an alternative emissions test.

We remain committed to consulting with industry as we develop a new compliance test that provides clarity for customers on their responsibilities.

If you are a vehicle owner seeking more information on the exemption, email Technical.Enquiries@ Transport.nsw.gov.au.

If you are a VSCCS Certifier seeking more information on the exemption, email VSCCS@ transport.nsw.gov.au.

Are your Fair Trading licences up to date?

There has been an increase in the number of proprietors and examiners who are being deactivated or suspended due to changes in, or the expiry of, their Motor Vehicle Repairer’s Licence (MVRL) or their Motor Vehicle Tradesperson’s Certificate (MVTC).

If a proprietor’s MVRL has expired, or the details do not match Transport records, then their authority as a proprietor will be deactivated until that MVRL has been renewed or the details updated (Clause 69 of the Regulation, and AIS Business Rule 1.05).

If an examiner’s MVTC has expired, they will be suspended until it has been renewed (AIS Business Rule 2.03). As this is also a breach of the

AIS Rules the examiner may be asked to ‘show cause’ if they have issued any inspection reports.

Transport and NSW Fair Trading are available to support you in keeping your MVRL and MVTC up to date so we can avoid taking these actions. We encourage all proprietors and examiners to check the status of their MVRL and MVTC on the One Gov website. If your licence has expired, please contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20. If your details (such as station address) have changed, please contact Accreditation on 1300 791 186.

If you no longer wish to hold your authority and would like to surrender it, please let Accreditation know by email ais@transport.nsw.gov.au

HISTORIC AND CLASSIC CARS Council of Heritage Motor Clubs rally The Council of Heritage Motor Clubs (CHMC) recently held a rally in Singleton for its members.

The event brought together motoring enthusiasts from all over NSW with hundreds of their historic vehicles on display.

Matthew Cafe, from the Transport Partnerships team, spoke at the event, where he discussed Transport’s Historic and Classic vehicle registration schemes and road safety risks such as fatigue, drink driving and speeding. A question-and-answer session helped club members to clarify any issues and concerns about registration and licensing. They ended the night with an automotive themed game of trivia.

For the many clubs that make up the CHMC, the weekend progressed with a series of runs, tours, breakfasts and dinners. A concours d’elegance judging session saw trophies awarded for various categories.

The CHMC is a valued member of the Transport Historic and Classic Working Group, where issues are raised on behalf of their members to ensure that Australia’s motoring heritage is preserved in a usable way. The working group promotes road safety initiatives and customer centric solutions for thousands of like-minded enthusiasts with vehicles that are more than 30 years old.

VEHICLE OPERATIONS Introducing our Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit

• Written-off vehicles

The Vehicle Identity & Inspections Unit performs specialised inspections of vehicles to detect evidence of rebirthing and vehicle identity related fraud. They play an important role in vehicle compliance by conducting random and intelligence-based vehicle inspections and education activities related to:

• High risk and suspect vehicles to ensure vehicles are safe and compliant for road use in NSW.

• Vehicles with identification irregularities

The Unit works closely with regulatory and enforcement partners NSW Fair Trading and NSW Police to deliver safer vehicle outcomes

Changes to how you write off light trucks The way light trucks are written-off in NSW will change on 14 August 2022 when the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017 is amended to adopt the national criteria for light trucks.

The expert panel that developed the Austroads heavy vehicle damage assessment criteria, found these criteria are more suitable for light trucks than the existing light vehicle assessment criteria. This is because light trucks are constructed differently to other light vehicles and are constructed more like heavy trucks. Unlike cars, most components on

light trucks can be easily replaced if damaged, without compromising the vehicle’s structural integrity.

It is important to remember light truck repairs must comply with written-off heavy vehicle policies and procedures after the August change.

For more information on the written-off vehicles scheme changes please contact WOVRenquiries@transport.nsw.gov.au and ask for the information pack.

Buyer beware flood damaged vehicles With the recent flooding around New South Wales and Queensland, most flood damaged vehicles including caravans and camper trailers are written-off.

Vehicles that are assessed and declared as a total economic loss are added to the WrittenOff Vehicle Register, making them ineligible for re-registering.

However, some are not considered a total economic loss and will bypass the Written-Off Vehicle Register.

In some instances, these vehicles are being sold privately or at auction and may pose a vehicle safety risk.

Transport recommends consumers inspect any second-hand vehicles thoroughly, seek advice prior to purchase and consult Fair Trading’s webpage Before you buy a car.

Assessors should continue to reference the written-off vehicles repair and certification administrative procedures for vehicle repairers and certifiers.

ROAD SAFETY 2026 Road Safety Action Plan is now live After extensive research, analysis and collaboration with road safety experts worldwide, as well as consultation with stakeholders and the NSW community, the 2026 Road Safety Action Plan is now live.

key trauma risks and the types of crashes occurring on NSW roads.

Every 46 minutes someone is killed or hospitalised by a crash on NSW roads. Although NSW recorded its lowest road fatalities since 1923, 270 lives were lost on our roads in 2021.

Transport for NSW is committed to achieving zero fatalities and serious injuries by 2050, the long-term goal agreed by all jurisdictions through the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-30.

• Creating safer country roads and urban places

The 2026 Road Safety Action Plan includes new targets to halve deaths and reduce serious injuries by 30 per cent on NSW roads by 2030, consistent with those in the National Strategy.

It features targeted and proven initiatives that build on existing programs and will help NSW progress towards our new targets - addressing

Over the next five years, the NSW Government will increase road safety through five priority areas:

• Enhancing road safety in local communities • Increasing the safety of light vehicles, heavy vehicles and protective equipment • Making safer choices on our roads • Ensuring the safety of vulnerable and other at-risk road users Transport would like to thank the community and all our road safety partners for their engagement with the plan, and we look forward to working together to bring everyone home safely.

To read the full plan, please visit the website.

ROAD SAFETY

NRSPP Heavy Vehicle Tool Box Talks – Bringing safety conversations to life Sometimes tool box talks can feel like a chore and it may seem like workers are not really engaged. The National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) is trying to change how these important messages are presented to drivers.

The NRSPP collaborative Heavy Vehicle Tool Box Talk (HVTBT) project has developed a range of TBTs to help organisations deliver engaging safety messages on topics relevant to heavy vehicle drivers’ daily tasks.

The first Tool Box Talk (TBT), which explores Driver Distraction, was released on May 5, with another TBT released on the first Thursday of each month. More than 20 TBTs are being developed, exploring topics ranging from fatigue and loading to roll overs and third-party road users.

them out, hold presentations guided by the facilitation pack and utilise driver videos to really engage your workers.

Every topic is checked by industry peer reviewers to ensure it is relevant, accurate and delivered in a way that will engage drivers. The information is sourced from a combination of industry bodies and scholarly texts.

To download individual TBTs, go to the NRSPP website or follow the NRSPP Facebook or Instagram pages.

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The first talk features BINGO Industries’ drivers discussing distraction, why it matters and how they try to address it in their daily operations.

TRIVIA

Each of the delivered digital packs are designed to be flexible and adaptable to how your organisation conducts TBTs. You can print

What was the first production car to have air conditioning fitted?

Click here for answer on page 1.

© 2022 • Regulatory Operations • Level 5, 110 George Street, Parramatta NSW • IndustryEngagement@transport.nsw.gov.au