Antilock Braking Systems: Submission

Antilock Braking Systems: Submission

The Federal Government has consulted with industry on a proposal to mandate antilock braking systems (ABS) for all new heavy vehicles and trailers from 1 January 2014. The changes are not retrospective and would be enacted through changes to Australian Vehicle Design Rules.

In assessing the proposal the ALRTA has sought advice from member operators, vehicle manufacturers and technical experts. While generally supportive of safety improvements, we have serious concerns about the cost, reliability and performance of modern ABS in remote operating environments. The practical implications of compatibility issues likely to arise when operating ‘smart’ and ‘dumb’ trailers in combination are also worrying.

ALRTA has made a detailed submission on the proposal in which we have asked the Government to properly resolve these uncertainties through a robust trial before proceeding. If you have any particular concerns about the proposal we would love to hear from you.