Odd Australian Design Regulations

[Franco Cozzo]

Hey guys, just wondering if you know of any odd ADRs regarding vehicles sold in Australia, as I know there is some stuff in there which is unique to our market and which makes things more expensive compared to other nations when it comes to selling vehicles in our market.

I've seen some over-engineered things at work, for example the light bar mount plates on our Ambulances are out of 10mm thick aluminium flat bar by 150mm long, for something which weighs like 10kg max, if you had an accident that severe there would be more chance of other things on the car part of factory which would fly off first, and the ocupants of the vehicle would most likely be dead for the light bar to even come close to ripping off the roof. The light bar is actually held on with more support than the auxilliary battery in the engine bay. Or on our prison vans the seat belt buckles holder things HAD to be 7/16" UNF bolts, rather than anything else.

[SSD-85]

I always found the ADR for not permitting ignition barrels anywhere except the steering column to be a bit odd. I cant figure out why they brought that one in.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

I always found the ADR for not permitting ignition barrels anywhere except the steering column to be a bit odd. I cant figure out why they brought that one in.

Really. My cars has it in the dahboard and that's from the factory.
Just to the right of the steering column

[madwag]

Originally Posted by Ben73

Really. My cars has it in the dahboard and that's from the factory.
Just to the right of the steering column

Im not sure what you drive, but they changed that around the late 70s (Im probably wrong though)

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

I always found the ADR for not permitting ignition barrels anywhere except the steering column to be a bit odd. I cant figure out why they brought that one in.

Hi Scotty85. I thought that was to ensure all vehicles had a steering lock to reduce theft.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

Hi Scotty85. I thought that was to ensure all vehicles had a steering lock to reduce theft.

I've not heard that one, I always thought it was a great idea to put ignition barrels on the centre console or middle/ish dash so that the passenger can use it in a hurry.

[Ford_The_Win]

Originally Posted by Scotty85

I always found the ADR for not permitting ignition barrels anywhere except the steering column to be a bit odd. I cant figure out why they brought that one in.

Obviously these days it's no longer the case, but I was under the impression that it was a safety issue back in the '60s and '70s. In an accident the key would end up in the driver's kneecap and cause serious injuries, hence why they were moved to the steering column. Old HR Holdens etc have the ignition in the dashboard.

[madwag]

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

Obviously these days it's no longer the case, but I was under the impression that it was a safety issue back in the '60s and '70s. In an accident the key would end up in the driver's kneecap and cause serious injuries, hence why they were moved to the steering column. Old HR Holdens etc have the ignition in the dashboard.

haha actually my dad got a key in his head.
Sitting in the back of a beetle and flew forward and hit his head on the dash in a crash.

[Brazen]

I think there is a max angle exhaust pipes can face down. Many euro cars have the tips which point down at 45 degrees,this has to be changed on Aussie bound cars.

[data_mine]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Or on our prison vans the seat belt buckles holder things HAD to be 7/16" UNF bolts, rather than anything else.

You'll find all seatbelt bolts are 7/16th UNF. Even in cars from metric only countries.

Having put harnesses in several cars, all have taken above spec bolt. Ford's (new and old), Nissan's (an old GTR).

[SLO247]

Third gen Magnas have the barrel on the dash....

[Nikked]

Some cars don't even have barrels anymore...SAAB's always had the barrel on the center console, mercs had them in the dash...

BMW's, Audis, Mercs, and even some toyotas dont have barrels anymore...

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Some cars don't even have barrels anymore...SAAB's always had the barrel on the center console, mercs had them in the dash...

BMW's, Audis, Mercs, and even some toyotas dont have barrels anymore...

Yup. Father in law has a new beemer and you push the 'key' (alarm fob looking thing) into a recess in the dash.

Is it only Aussie cars that MUST have the gear throw direction / slots somewhere in the car (either on the knob or near it??)

[cobramania]

Not 100% sure on this one, but the guy who told me spends about 4 months each year in Europe, & he says all Australian cars have to have an orange seat belt release button on them. Many European cars have other colours, I think BMW have yellow, some have Black, some Red, etc. But all have to be changed to Orange, when imported into Australia.

[casabonka]

Originally Posted by cobramania

Not 100% sure on this one, but the guy who told me spends about 4 months each year in Europe, & he says all Australian cars have to have an orange seat belt release button on them. Many European cars have other colours, I think BMW have yellow, some have Black, some Red, etc. But all have to be changed to Orange, when imported into Australia.

We really do have a love for Hivis here dont we!!

[morak001]

Originally Posted by cobramania

Not 100% sure on this one, but the guy who told me spends about 4 months each year in Europe, & he says all Australian cars have to have an orange seat belt release button on them. Many European cars have other colours, I think BMW have yellow, some have Black, some Red, etc. But all have to be changed to Orange, when imported into Australia.

That one might depend on the model, The only mod I needed to do to my '97 3series from UK was to drill holes in the parcel shelf to allow access to the existing child restraint anchor points. The seat belts already had ADR tags on them. Speedo had miles and km marked.

[XRtowcar]

I think its time we ditched ADR's and adopted US and Euro esign rules, as a way of reducing manufacturing and outright purchase price of Australian supplied vehicles.
If its good enough for countries with populations many times ours, then why do we think we have to redisgn cars to suit us?
As long as we dont let underdesigned Chinese cars pass.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

I think its time we ditched ADR's and adopted US and Euro esign rules, as a way of reducing manufacturing and outright purchase price of Australian supplied vehicles.
If its good enough for countries with populations many times ours, then why do we think we have to redisgn cars to suit us?
As long as we dont let underdesigned Chinese cars pass.

Sir, you cannot go around quoting common sense. Did you not know it is not that common anymore

Of course, you are completely correct and it adds cost but no benefit.

[mik]

not really odd, my young brother bought an import supra, it had to have seat belts changed and side intrusion bars fitted inside the doors, possibly more stuff i can`t remember, personally i would`nt be in to much of a hurry to get rid of ADR even if it is a pain at times, the regs are for our safety even if some are a bit odd.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by mik

not really odd, my young brother bought an import supra, it had to have seat belts changed and side intrusion bars fitted inside the doors, possibly more stuff i can`t remember, personally i would`nt be in to much of a hurry to get rid of ADR even if it is a pain at times, the regs are for our safety even if some are a bit odd.

You sure about fitting side intrusion bars? one does not simply fit them...

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by Nikked

You sure about fitting side intrusion bars? one does not simply fit them...

Yes, grey imports have to have side impact bars fitted - always have, always will.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by davway

Yes, grey imports have to have side impact bars fitted - always have, always will.

So, you have to take the door skin off, weld an appropriate bar in then put a new door skin on?


Technically, you cant even repair them, let alone intall one...


My bet it was something else...Supras do have intusion bars in the doors...infact every car would...

I dont undertand why it wouldn't...

[Johnnyboy]

I have a full copy of the ADR's here somewhere.. Problem is they change so often.

For example, I remember the following light rules from the 80's. Not sure what happened to them as no one seems to follow them anymore - possibly no longer apply.

Lights - not to be mounted higher than 1m from the road surface. I see a heap of 4WD's with lights mounted on roof/tray bars.
Lights - must have a symetrical pair of lights at front of vehicle - ie. no single driving light in the middle of the bull bar - how often do you see this now?
Lights - driving lights had to be wired to only come on with the high beam. Fog lights should only come on with low beam and were only allowed to be uised in fog. No idea what the current fashion lights are described as in the ADR's...

Some of the other ones I remember are how every vehicle needed a servicable spare tyre. Police used to always check this on P platers...

John

[mik]

Originally Posted by Nikked

So, you have to take the door skin off, weld an appropriate bar in then put a new door skin on?


Technically, you cant even repair them, let alone intall one...


My bet it was something else...Supras do have intusion bars in the doors...infact every car would...

I dont undertand why it wouldn't...

yes they do but they(thin pressed sheet metal) are **** weak , the australian ones are much stronger, hence the the requirement to be changed, and there`s no need to pull the door skin off to fit them, my camera batteries are flat or i`d take a photo of a supra door with the trim off for you.

[Zedjay]

Originally Posted by davway

Yes, grey imports have to have side impact bars fitted - always have, always will.

not if its a private import..
i got a MZ20 that has no impact bars..it also has no child seat bolts and even only has lap belts in the rear....

[Polyal]

So your saying Oz built cars are safer than Japanese?..hehe

Some rules, like those that even differ from state to state are odd and seem to be there to keep some government agencies running.

[Blue Blooded]

Originally Posted by Polyal

So your saying Oz built cars are safer than Japanese?..hehe

Some rules, like those that even differ from state to state are odd and seem to be there to keep some government agencies running.

You are comparing Jap cars that have been built to Aussie standards ie:ADR's

[mik]

Originally Posted by Polyal

So your saying Oz built cars are safer than Japanese?..hehe

Some rules, like those that even differ from state to state are odd and seem to be there to keep some government agencies running.

Polyal do you think Aussie cars are so stone age they can`t possibly be better than a japanese car in any way? not having a go at you just wondering why, to me the asians do some things well(as do Aussies) , but i still don`t think they are the pinnacle of motor cars by any stretch.

[noosacuda]

My favourite one is for Qld LO2 rego- "2 child restraint mounting points to fitted in rear parcel shelf" Hate drilling un-neccessary holes in classic cars!

[aquahead2001]

ADR's are in the process of being "harmonised" with the Euro Standards at present, I think they are taking 4-5years to do so. FYI, the ADR's led the world for many, many years when it came to vehilce safety standards. They were the first ones to require child restraint anchorage points and a few other things that I fail to remember at my advanced age.

So yes, they may be a pain when you importing a grey import Supra that has seat belts that are there for looks and no side intrusion bars that allow that errant pulsar to turn you into a parapalegic but they have served us well.