Australian Capital Territory
Road Transport (Dimensions and Mass)     B-Double Exemption Notice 2006

Disallowable Instrument DI 2006—118
made under the
Road Transport (Dimensions and Mass Act 1990), Section 31A (Exemptions)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Legislative Context

Section 31A of the Road Transport (Dimensions and Mass) Act 1990 allows the Minister to issue notices exempting specified classes of heavy vehicles or combinations from any or all of the normal requirements of Part II of the Act (relating to vehicle dimension and design) or Part III (relating to loads and equipment).  The same section also allows the Minister to exempt specified classes of persons from having to comply with Section 37, which prohibits driving certain types of heavy vehicle combinations in the ACT. 
Section 31A of the Act provides that an exemption notice is a disallowable instrument under the Legislation Act 2001.

Determination

Vehicles and Conditions of the Notice

A B-Double is defined in Section 3 of the Act as a heavy motor vehicle combination consisting of a prime mover towing two semi-trailers. 
This notice exempts B-Doubles and other vehicles, which comply with this notice from the requirements of section 9 (relating to vehicle dimensions) and Section 24 (relating to the gross mass of vehicles and combinations). 
This exemption notice, permits complying B-Doubles with a gross mass limit not exceeding 62.5 tonnes gross combination mass with a maximum height of 4.6 metres, width of 2.5 metres and length of 25 metres or 26 metres with specific conditions complying with the Regulations made under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Agreement for a front under-run protection system 
(UN ECE R93) and for cabin strength (UN ECE R29), and where the distance between the center line of the kingpin on the first trailer and the rear of the second trailer does not exceed 20.6 metres, compared to the normal limits of 19 metres and 42.5 tonnes for other combinations.  

These and the other conditions that apply to the operation of B-Doubles in the ACT are contained in the Schedule to the Instrument: 
Part 1 of the Schedule - specifies travel requirements; 
Part 2 - specifies operating conditions and restrictions; 
Part 3 - specifies mass and dimension limits; 
Part 4 - specifies the standards and specifications with which a B-Double must comply, including requirements for tracking and turning capabilities, front under-run protection systems and cabin strength; 
Part 5 - provides for approved routes and travel requirements.  These approved routes and the travel restrictions and conditions applying to them are listed in the Attachment to the Schedule.  (B-Doubles will continue to require individual permits in order to operate on any route not listed in the Attachment.) 
Part 6 – specifies a note related to road trains;
Part 7 - specifies definitions.
The exemption notice also exempts a person who drives a B-Double, or other vehicle to which the notice or current permit applies, from committing an offence under Section 37, provided that he or she holds a current licence to drive these vehicles. 
It is a condition of the exemption notice that a copy of the exemption notice be carried in any vehicle to which this notice applies while operating in the ACT in accordance with its terms. 
The conditions specified in the exemption notice are consistent with those which apply in New South Wales. 

The instrument takes effect on the day after notification on the legislation register.