Western Australian Repealed Regulations Western Australian Repealed RegulationsThis legislation has been repealed.
(1) Subject to the
provisions of subregulation (2) a motor vehicle, other than a motor
cycle, shall be equipped with an efficient braking system comprising brakes
fitted to all road wheels, either with 2 separate methods of actuation, or
with a separate emergency hand-brake system, so arranged, in both cases, that
the emergency hand-brake is capable of acting on at least 2 wheels or
wheel assemblies, and that, in the event of failure of any one part of the
actuating mechanism, effective braking remains on not less than 2 wheels or
wheel assemblies.
(2) Notwithstanding
the provisions of subregulation (1), where a vehicle complies with the
performance requirements of regulation 604, then —
(a) if
it was first registered before 1 January 1930 it may have 2 independent,
efficient braking systems, each of which acts on not less than half the number
of road wheels or wheel assemblies, or, where the vehicle has less than 4
wheels or wheel assemblies, acts on 2 wheels or wheel assemblies; and
(b) if
the vehicle is a tractor, grader or other self-propelled mobile plant
incapable of exceeding 40 kilometres per hour and is equipped with one
efficient wholly mechanical braking system, acting on at least 2 wheels or
wheel assemblies, and the actuating mechanism has a ratchet or locking device
capable of holding it in any selected position, it complies with the
requirements of this regulation.
(3) The brake tubing,
brake hose, brake cables, rods and other linkage shall, in every
case —
(a) be
so constructed as to ensure adequate, reliable and continued functioning;
(b) be
so fitted to the vehicle as to prevent chafing, kinking, or other mechanical
damage, under normal motion of the parts to which they are attached; and
(c) in
the case of brake tubing and brake hose, conform to the British Standards
Specification of the Society of Automotive Engineers or such other standards
specified for hydraulic brake hose, air brake hose or vacuum brake hose as the
Director General may approve.
(4) Notwithstanding
the provisions of subregulation (3), all motor vehicles manufactured on
or after 1 January 1970 that are equipped with hydraulic brake hoses
shall be so equipped with hydraulic brake hose that complies with Australian
Design Rule No. 7 — Hydraulic Brake Hoses.
(5) A braking system
shall be so constructed that —
(a) the
service foot-brake acts directly on the road wheels and not through the
transmission;
(b) the
emergency hand-brake is operated by a separate lever fitted with a ratchet or
locking device capable of holding it in any selected position, and is applied
by direct mechanical action without the intervention of any hydraulic,
electrical or pneumatic device; and
(c) both
braking systems described in paragraphs (a) and (b) are so arranged that,
when either system is operated, the brakes are equally applied to all the
wheels of an axle.
(6) A braking system
shall be so constructed that provision is made for the adjustment or taking up
of the ordinary wear of the brakes and for adequately securing or locking the
adjustment device over the whole of its effective range.
(7) Subject to the
provisions of subregulations (11), (12) and (13), where a motor vehicle
is fitted —
(a) with
an air operated braking system, it shall be equipped with at least one air
storage reservoir; or
(b) with
a vacuum operated braking system, it shall be equipped with at least one
vacuum storage reservoir.
(8) Subject to the
provisions of subregulations (11), (12) and (13) a motor vehicle, of
which the aggregate mass is 6 tonnes or more, and an omnibus, shall, if fitted
with air assisted or vacuum assisted braking system, be equipped with not less
than one storage reservoir for air or vacuum, as the case may require.
(9) The storage
reservoir with which the motor vehicle is equipped in accordance with
subregulations (7) and (8) shall —
(a) be
of adequate size and capacity to ensure that, in the event of the engine
stopping or the source of supply of air or vacuum failing, not less than 2
applications of the service brake, each complying with the brake performance
requirement prescribed by regulation 604, can be made;
(b) be
of adequate strength and, in the case of an air reservoir, be provided with a
drain, plug or other means to permit the removal of water or other foreign
matter that may accumulate, at the lowest point of the reservoir;
(c) be
provided with such a visible or audible warning signal or both as will readily
indicate to the driver, while in his proper driving position, any loss or lack
of air or vacuum sufficient to prevent the vehicle from being stopped in the
distance prescribed by regulation 604; and a gauge indicating pressure or
vacuum within the reservoir does not satisfy the requirements of this
paragraph; and
(d) be
safeguarded by a check valve or equivalent device such as will, in the event
of failure or leakage in its connection to the source of compressed air or
vacuum, ensure that the air or vacuum supply in the reservoir is not depleted
by the failure or leakage.
(10) Subject to the
provisions of subregulations (12) and (13), a motor vehicle used to tow a
trailer, semi-trailer or pole-type trailer required to be equipped with
brakes, shall be equipped with means of providing that, in case of a breakaway
of the tow, the service brakes of the motor vehicle remain operative and
capable of stopping the motor vehicle, in the distance prescribed by
regulation 604.
(11) On and after
1 January 1967 the requirements —
(a) of
subregulations (7), (8) and (9) shall apply to omnibuses; and
(b) of
subregulations (7), (8), (9) and (10) shall apply to every motor vehicle
of which the aggregate mass is 6 tonnes or more and which
is —
(i)
first registered on or after that date; and
(ii)
first fitted with air or vacuum operated or air or vacuum
assisted brakes on or after this date.
(12) Notwithstanding
the provisions of subregulation (5), emergency brakes applied by spring
action, after the release of air pressure or vacuum holding them off, may be
fitted to a motor vehicle, and, in that event —
(a) the
brakes shall be so fitted and arranged that they will act directly on, and be
applied equally to, all the wheels of any axle on which they are used;
(b) the
lever or control by which the brakes are made to apply shall be fitted with a
device that will lock the lever or control against inadvertent operation and
shall be so located as to enable the driver to apply or release the brakes
from the normal driving position;
(c) the
brakes, when not deliberately brought into use, shall be held off by the
normal air or vacuum supply in the vehicle and shall be applied by the near
instantaneous discharge of the air or vacuum by which they are held off,
through the operation of the lever or control mentioned in paragraph (b)
of this subregulation;
(d) a
separate air or vacuum reservoir, complying with the provisions of
subregulation (9)(b) and (d), to provide at least 2 releases of the
spring brakes when the normal air or vacuum supply is not available, shall be
provided, together with a lever or control so located as to enable the driver
to release and apply the brakes from the normal driving position;
(e) the
brakes shall not operate, automatically, on loss of stored air or vacuum
supply, before the pressure or vacuum in the system has fallen below the level
at which the low level warning signal operates;
(f)
where the brakes are fitted to a motor vehicle used to tow a trailer,
semi-trailer or pole-type trailer, they shall not operate, automatically,
before the breakaway brakes operate, and their application shall not cause the
normal brakes of the trailer, semi-trailer or pole-type trailer to operate;
and
(g) the
brakes shall be capable of stopping the vehicle in the distances specified in
Table B to regulation 604.
(13) On and after
1 July 1967 the requirements of subregulations (7), (8), (9) and
(10) shall, where relevant, apply to every motor vehicle.
[Regulation 601 amended in Gazette
2 Feb 1982 p. 407; 31 Jan 1997 p. 685-6.]