DRIVE Winter 2022 Edition

WINTER 2022

Inside: Transition to the NHVR Interstate licences Safer bus trips in the snow Road safety news Auto industry news

NSW heavy vehicle regulation passes to the NHVR Heavy vehicle operators in NSW now only need to deal with a single, independent organisation for regulatory services – the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

On 1 August 2022, NSW joined the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria by moving its Heavy Vehicle National Law regulatory activities to the NHVR. The NHVR will take over the management of Transport’s Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme, including more than 200 existing Heavy Vehicle Inspection Stations, giving it a complete overview of the NSW heavy vehicle fleet.

Roadside enforcement, investigations, prosecutions and scheduled heavy vehicle inspections currently provided by Transport are some of the services transferring to the NHVR, along with 340 Transport staff who support the industry.

“The hard work and dedication of our Transport people have set the safety bar for heavy vehicle compliance high,” said Tara McCarthy, Deputy Secretary of the Safety, Environment and Regulation division of Transport for NSW. The 310 people bring a huge range and depth of experience to the NHVR which ensures the needs and views of NSW’s heavy vehicle industry will remain front and centre.

“There are many opportunities I see for the regulator to build on the great regulatory capability that exists here and improve safety for the industry not only in NSW, but nationally,” stated NHVR Chief Executive Officer, Sal Petroccitto.

Transport will continue to provide several other important heavy vehicle services, including licensing, registration and compliance. It will also continue to provide the bus accreditation service.

“I am proud of each member of the Heavy Vehicle team who transitioned to the NHVR on 1 August 2022. They are now NSW’s road safety ambassadors at the national level. I’m confident they will continue delivering consistent regulatory outcomes for our country,” added Tara.

The NHVR is based in Brisbane and has its NSW office in Parramatta.

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GENERAL NEWS

Stamp duty for EVs Stamp duty exemptions for eligible electric vehicles (EVs) will be applied automatically from 15 August 2022 when the vehicle is registered or the ownership is transferred. This will save customers an out-ofpocket cost of up to $3000 and the hassle of claiming the refund.

New and used Battery EVs and Fuel Cell EVs sold for $78,000 or less (including GST) from September 2021 will receive the exemption.

The Dealer Online Portal and DRIVES are being updated to automate the stamp duty exemption, identify all motor power classes of EVs and enable new types of eligible EVs to be added to the system Dealers who do not register vehicles using the Dealer Online Portal can visit a Service NSW service centre to complete this process on behalf of the customer as usual. Car owners can also receive the exemption if they register an eligible vehicle by visiting a service centre.

Eligible second-hand EVs will also have the stamp duty exemption applied automatically when ownership is transferred.

For eligible EVs purchased and registered between September 2021 and 15 August 2022, customers are asked to follow the current process of claiming back the vehicle duty.

More information can be found at No stamp duty payable on electric vehicle purchases | NSW Government.

"This Commonwealth initiative reduces red tape and opens opportunities for workers in many sectors around the country,” explained Meagan Felton, Senior Manager Licence Programs.

On 27 June 2022, the NSW Treasurer delayed AMR for six months for several licences, including the driver authority and Driving Instructor licence, to address some legal and legislative items.

This means that holders of an interstate driver authority (or equivalent) cannot work in NSW under AMR until this licence has been moved to the scheme. The driver authority may move to AMR before 31 December 2022.

Making it easier to work interstate The Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme will allow workers in certain industries to work in a second state or territory without the need to get a licence, or pay fees, in that second state or territory.

NSW bus drivers can work in other states or territories if that jurisdiction has included the driver authority (or equivalent) in AMR. Transport remains committed to working with industry to ensure the AMR rollout is smooth and successful,” said Meagan.

You can find out more about updates to AMR, including a full list of occupations, notification requirements, compliance advice and how to notify.

HC plated vehicles access to transit lanes Registered hire cars with HC number plates can continue using bus and transit lanes until 30 June 2023 under a new extension to the Bus and Transit Lane Exemption.

The current extension of the use of bus and transit lanes by HC-plated vehicles was due to end on 30 June 2022 and has now been extended for 12 months.

Hire cars are not allowed to use ‘bus only’ lanes.

The NSW Government supports the Point to Point Transport Independent Review recommendation that hire vehicles are not permitted to use bus and transit lanes. Transport will keep the hire car industry informed of changes to hire car access arrangements.

You can find out more about the Point to Point transport reforms.

If you have any questions about HC number plates, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Changes for written-off light trucks From 15 August 2022, written-off light trucks must be assessed using the Damage Assessment Criteria for the Classification of Heavy Vehicle Statutory Write-Offs.

Assessors will need to use the Austroads heavy vehicle criteria when recording a light truck as a total loss.

Light trucks have construction consistent with heavy trucks. They are defined as an NB1 category vehicle that is built on a rolling chassis, where the cabin may be removed, with the design and construction of a chassis-cab NC category vehicle with Gross Vehicle Mass more than 3.5 and up to 4.5 tonnes. Utilities and fourwheel drive passenger vehicles are excluded.

Other changes for light trucks include: Self-insurer five vehicle limit no longer applies 15-year vehicle age limit no longer applies Repairs to be done by a suitably qualified licensed repairer.

Additional changes will reduce paperwork for the industry while insurers no longer need to keep a separate register for vehicles that aren’t a total loss.

“We’ve developed the Written-off light vehicle policies and procedures and Written-off heavy vehicle policies and procedures to make the changes easier to follow,” advised Ruth Clulow, Senior Manager, Vehicle Operations.

“The Declaration of Vehicle Damage template has also been simplified for ease of use, saving time for our customers and insurers,” Ruth added.

Also, relevant technical specifications no longer apply to cosmetic damage.

The national expert reference group, represented by organisations like the Motor Traders’ Association of NSW, Institute of Automotive Mechanical Engineers and NSW Centre for Road Safety, recommended the shift because the construction of light trucks is more like heavy vehicles than light vehicles.

Light trucks that meet the Austroads heavy vehicle criteria are not eligible for repair but can be used for parts or scrap.

Those that are a total loss but do not meet the Austroads heavy vehicle criteria must also be notified to the NSW written-off light vehicles register as statutory write-offs.

They may be eligible for an authorisation to repair in limited circumstances.

For further questions or to provide feedback, please email WOVRenquiries@transport.nsw.gov.au.

For more information, visit the Written-off light vehicles webpage.

Holy Guacamole! New IT system to access DRIVES24 It's not often you associate a smashed avocado with the implementation of a new IT system unless something went terribly wrong, but in this instance, everything went very right!

The Guacamole Project team (named after the software) delivered a new way for more than 110 external agencies to access the Transport DRIVES24 system. Replacing a tired and endof-life solution, the new Guacamole solution provides faster, simpler access to the Driver and Vehicle information contained in DRIVES24.

Unlike it's predecessor, the new system allows users to access DRIVES24 without needing special software installed on their devices.

Using a standard web browser, a user can safely and securely access DRIVES24 from their office.

Multi-factor authentication (with codes sent to the user's mobile phone) completes the additional security layers.

Working for more than six months on the solution, the team successfully moved external users to the new system over two weeks. The system was overwhelming applauded for its ease of use by the external agencies.

Meet us at upcoming events AgQuip, 16-18 August 2022 Henty Machinery Field Days, 20-22 September 2022 Australasia Bus and Coach Expo, 5-6 October 2022 Australian National Field Days, 20-22 October 2022 NatRoad Conference, 20-22 October 2022 PrimeX, 10-12 November 2022 BIC Moving People Conference, 13-16 November 2022

REGISTRATIONS

Taxi Registration Renewals now online Following a successful pilot between the taxi sector, Transport for NSW, Point to Point Transport Commissioner and Service NSW, online registration renewals are available to taxi operators.

Taxi operators can now renew their vehicle registrations online. If their vehicle is registered in their name and not in the name of a company, they can also receive registration renewal notices via email and their MyServiceNSW account by opting into Digital Vehicle Registration.

Online registration renewals were opened to the general driving public in 2013 and have now been extended to the taxi sector.

Thirty-four taxi owners participated in the pilot and said the online service made it faster and easier to renew their registration. The feedback from the wider taxi industry has been supportive as well.

Pink slips back on track after floods and COVID-19

“Moving to an online registration renewal system for taxis will deliver great benefits for operators, including reducing downtime and the convenience of being able to renew anytime. It has been great working with Transport on this project, seeing it through to completion,” said Nick Abrahim, NSW Taxi Council.

Individuals in NSW can set up their MyServiceNSW accounts at service.nsw.gov.au.

More than 9,400 light vehicles in NSW had their Safety Check Inspections (Pink Slips) delayed between June and October 2021 as part of Transport’s emergency measures to support customers impacted by COVID-19 and natural disasters.

With the grace period now over, vehicle owners should be organising to have these inspections carried out as soon as possible. The delay gave vehicle owners more time for their pink slips and registration renewals.

Thanks to a systematic approach to support Transport’s impacted customers, most outstanding inspections have since been completed.

“We understand that many of our customers experienced hardship and we trust the extra time to organise their pink slips and registration renewals has helped,” said Natalie Martin, Senior Manager Vehicle Programs.

“For the safety of all road users, it’s now important that all vehicles are up to date with their safety inspections and registration.”

Transport has extended deferrals to customers impacted by recent flooding events. These are being considered on a case by case basis.

Digital Vehicle Registration takes off More than 230,000 customers have signed up for Transport’s new Digital Vehicle Registration (DVR) service since its launch in March.

“Feedback has been positive with customers saying that DVR is quick and easy to use. They appreciate having a digital reminder service that provides all the information they need to renew registration,” said Katie Davis-Hall-Watson, Manager Licensing and Registration Products.

“DVR offers registration renewal reminders via email, MyService NSW Accounts and alerts from the Service NSW app. It also gives immediate access to a digital Certificate of Registration.”

You are eligible for this service if you are the registered operator of a vehicle that can be renewed online. Companies are not eligible at this stage.

Once you sign up, registration reminders are sent: six weeks before registration is due two weeks before it is due the day after it is due (if not renewed by the due date).

Customers only have to opt in once and digital notifications start immediately for all eligible vehicles,” said Katie.

After opting-in, customers will no longer receive renewal notifications by post as they will switch to digital notifications.

To sign up visit Digital Vehicle Registration on the Service NSW website.

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

Delivering safer bus trips in the NSW snow fields If you have ever driven a car in snowy conditions, you will be familiar with the added difficulty and road safety risks. Imagine then the difficulty of driving a bus loaded with passengers in the Snowy Mountains during the NSW ski season.

After familiarising themselves with the area, drivers identified weather conditions that would impact their final component of the exam - a two hour supervised drive.

The training is based upon nationally recognised competencies and adds to the Towards Zero safe systems approach that Transport adopts to increase the safety of our customers.

To reduce this risk and keep people safe, NSW legislation requires drivers of public passenger vehicles in the Kosciuszko National Park to undergo a Snow Driver Training course with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Transport administers this course to equip bus drivers with safety awareness and advanced skills.

As part of Transport’s ongoing engagement with the bus industry, Matthew Cafe, Manager Partnerships, and Shirley Wilson, Senior Operations Improvement Officer, recently oversaw the Snow Driver Training at the opening of the NSW 2022 ski season.

“Participants were assessed in responding to dangerous weather such as snow, black ice, extreme cold and high winds,” said Shirley.

The practical exam included pre-operational checks of the bus and equipment prior to boarding, and fitting and adjusting snow chains in snowfield conditions.

Drivers were also required to familiarise themselves with chain fitting bays and bus parking areas in the Kosciuszko National Park.

Upon successful completion, drivers are issued with a certificate allowing them to drive a public passenger vehicle in the Kosciuszko National Park.

“The drivers involved, Gordon, Eva, David and Jiang from Brighton Coaches, did a great job demonstrating their skills in fitting snow chains and navigating the icy roads to Thredbo and Perisher,” said Shirley.

“The benefits of their training were put to good use straight away, with trips booked to the Snowy Mountains over July and August 2022.”

Transport enforces the snow driver training requirement to protect people on the roads. If drivers are found to be operating a public passenger service without having completed the required training, the driver’s authority and the operator’s accreditation will both be suspended.

“Before providing services to clients this snow season, we encourage operators and drivers to read BOAS Accreditation Bulletin 1.3 which includes a handy checklist," said Shirley.

Say hello at the Australasia Bus and Coach Expo The Australasia Bus and Coach Expo 2022 will be held at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park NSW on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 October 2022.

“The Expo is a great opportunity for the bus and coach industry to network with key contacts, meet new customers and create brand awareness for products or services” said Ros Ryan, Senior Manager Partnerships and Performance.

2 for 3 bus seats Dedicated school buses in rural and regional NSW that have been fitted for three instead of two children to sit on standard seats with seat belts can continue to give more children a safe ride to school.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) previously provided a vehicle standards exemption to allow ‘two for three’ seats to be used in some buses that transport children in NSW, when additional safety standards are met in relation to those seats.

A recent amendment to the Heavy Vehicle (Adoption of National Law) Act 2013 allows this arrangement to continue in rural and regional NSW. “Transport has made a significant investment to provide seat belts for privately-owned rural and regional buses to make access to school safe and affordable for families in NSW,” said Tara McCarthy, Deputy Secretary, Safety, Environment and Regulation.

"This amendment provides bus operators with certainty to safely use two for three bus seats during the life span of these buses... this is great news for families and regional bus operators.”

Historically, it was common for buses being used for school children to allow three children under the age of 12 to sit on a bench seat designed for two adults. The amendment recognises the two for three bus seat layout so those seats don’t have to meet the standard 400mm minimum width requirement for seating positions.

The exemption requires additional safety standards for labelling/signage, an Energy Dissipation Test, seatbelts and anchorage. The current seats include three lap sash seat belts across the bench.

Transport will be an exhibitor in The Dome and Halls 2 and 3.

“We welcome customers and members of the public to come meet Transport staff to discuss all things buses - bus safety, operator accreditation, driver authority, driver medicals, our road safety campaigns and more,” said Ros.

Stakeholder engagement in the Jindabyne area Strong, collaborative relationships mean better results for NSW road users and delivering safety outcomes for our customers.

While attending the Snow Driver Training course in Jindabyne, Matthew Cafe, Manager Partnerships, and Shirley Wilson, Senior Operations Improvement Officer, met with local bus operators to talk about safety, accreditation, and business issues.

We take engagement with our operators seriously and have a strong focus on effective communication. The Partnerships and Performance Senior Operations Improvement Officer is a dedicated resource for NSW bus operators, providing assistance, education and guidance to ensure operators have in place the appropriate systems and tools to improve safety in the bus and coach industry.

ROAD SAFETY

Driving decisions made easier for older drivers Driving and staying independent: A decision aid for older drivers was developed to assist older drivers to consider whether to continue driving, change their driving routines or retire from driving.

“Driving is a valuable part of life that brings a sense of independence, freedom and access to participate in many areas of life,” said Tara McCarthy Deputy Secretary, Safety, Environment and Regulation.

Most older drivers are experienced, cautious, and responsible and dearly value the independence and convenience of driving.

Driving skills and abilities change over time, so it is helpful to plan for future transport needs.

This decision aid helps driver’s make informed decisions on: How to keep driving safely for longer How to maintain their lifestyle as they drive less or retire from driving How to prepare for other ways to get around.

The project is supported by the Centre for Road Safety and funded by Transport for NSW through the Community Road Safety Fund. The decision aid was developed by the University of Wollongong using a codesign approach with two expert working groups.

You can download a free PDF copy, access the online version or order a printed copy for a small cost via the Adhere website. For more information or resources to promote the decision aid please contact the Road Safety Team via towardszero@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Online Fitness to Drive forms for medical assessments Getting a Fitness to Drive medical assessment is now faster and easier with online medical forms.

Customers are encouraged to ask their general practitioner or specialist to complete the form online, so assessments are sent directly and securely to Transport.

Most Fitness to Drive assessments are being processed immediately and customers can request a copy from their medical practitioner for their records.

Customer feedback has been positive, with one customer commenting, “My doctor was great as always... Did the form, checked me out, provided my usual scripts and I was on my way within 14 minutes”.

Whilst paper forms have been discontinued, they can still be requested from Service NSW by calling 13 22 13 or visiting a service centre.

Customers will need to visit a service centre to hand in the completed paper form and can request a datestamped copy.

Transport will continue to write to drivers eight weeks before they need a medical review. In most cases, medical reviews are aligned to a driver’s birthday.

Drivers who need a Fitness to Drive include those who: are over 75 years have a long-term medical condition or disability are upgrading a licence class and have a medical condition that affects driving have experienced a recent injury, illness or medical condition carry public passengers for hire or reward are first applying for a Class MC (Multi Combination) licence – then at different intervals based on age.

Motorcycle clothing and helmet comparison website keeps riders safe

Tragically, there was an increase in motorcycle fatalities during 2021, and so far, 30 motorcyclists have lost their lives on NSW roads in 2022. Choosing the right protective gear is so important to motorcycle riders, who are more vulnerable to injury or fatality if involved in a crash than other road users.

The updated Motorcycle Clothing Assessment Program (MotoCAP) website allows motorcycle riders to select protective gear and compare features like safety and breathability. Users can filter and sort options by their preference for jackets, pants, and gloves.

On the same website, the Consumer Rating and Assessment of Safety Helmets (CRASH) provides information about helmet performance, type, fit and care. Helmets can be filtered, sorted and compared by features like comfort and safety ratings, type and brand.

With studies showing that up to 30 per cent of motorcycle clothing fails to protect the rider in a crash, this free and independent resource helps riders choose the right gear to keep them safe on our roads.

Motorcycle riders can now access over 600 safety ratings for riding gear that will help them choose their protective gear based on safety and comfort.

Transport for NSW runs these internationally recognised programs which continually test rider gear and update their website with newly tested products.

Riders can submit nominations for helmets to be tested and rated by contacting CRASH through the website.

Visit MotoCAP and CRASH for more information.

Engaging with Toyota Landcruiser enthusiasts

On 4 July Matthew Cafe, Manager Partnerships, Julhas Rahim, Technical Enquiries Officer from Transport for NSW, and Acting Sergeant Stephen Richards from NSW Police appeared as guest panellists at Toyota Landcruiser Club of Australia’s General Meeting.

The panel answered questions to more than 300 club members via livestream, ranging from towing, to vehicle modifications and historic registration.

“This is another way we’re engaging with industry groups and utilising our excellent working relationship with NSW Police to promote road safety” said Matthew Cafe.

L to R - Matthew Cafe (Manager Partnerships), A/Sergeant Stephen Richards (NSW Police), Julhas Rahim (Technical Enquiries Officer), and Bob Fyfe (President Toyota Landcruiser Club of Australia).

© 2022

Transport for NSW is committed to building strong relationships with industry groups to help achieve good safety outcomes for the community.

Regulatory Operations Level 5, 110 George Street Parramatta NSW 2150 IndustryEngagement@transport.nsw.gov.au