Bull bar rule amnesty ends in Sept in NSW

[Mundy55]

For those who don't read the Unsealed4x4 magazine, there's a good article on the bull bar rules in NSW and the apparent end of the amnesty in September. See it at:

https://magazine.unsealed4x4.com.au/en_US/14852/210680/this_isn%e2%80%99t_april_fool%e2%80%99s_%e2%80%93_what_you_need_to_know_about_the_nsw_bull_bar_laws.html

[old Jack]

Unfortunately the unsealed 4x4 article id not go into the full details but if you read the RTA web page that was linked in the article you can get the complete and correct story.


OJ.

[Morten]

And the can of worms sits ready...how long before the plod cuts loose and defects every 4x4...they'll find something...

[jkwpajero]

In the real world it will only affect people who do not, or choose not to, understand the rules as they are. I have a OEM steel bullbar with no protrusions, so I sleep well at night.


James

[Mundy55]

Unfortunately the unsealed 4x4 article id not go into the full details but if you read the RTA web page that was linked in the article you can get the complete and correct story.


OJ.

I think you are being a little overly pejorative and also imply the online magazine might not have been completely correct. The article sumarises the main elements IMHO and provides the link to the RMS website (as you noted). I read the full document and didn't notice any errors in the magazine's article. I think it did well to to bring this to our attention - credit where its due. [I don't have any direct or indirect association with the magazine, other than reading the artilces].

[old Jack]

I think you are being a little overly pejorative and also imply the online magazine might not have been completely correct. The article sumarises the main elements IMHO and provides the link to the RMS website (as you noted). I read the full document and didn't notice any errors in the magazine's article. I think it did well to to bring this to our attention - credit where its due. [I don't have any direct or indirect association with the magazine, other than reading the artilces].

Hi Mundy,


Agree that is a good thing that Unsealed 4x4 ran the article, but I see the problem is 99.9% of readers will not read the link with all the information so they will not have a full understanding of the requirements but will think they do!


NSW is watering down the Australian Standars AS4876.1 for bullbar construction, I suspect this decision is due to pressure from the aftermarket industry and other groups that have a vested interest. However this will only give the Pedestrian Council of Australia more exposure to continue their fight to have all bullbars banned from vehicle operating in the city and suburbs.

https://www.walk.com.au/wtw/Page.asp?PageID=893

Ultimately what is required is a "Pedestrian friendly" bullbar and these will not be made out of metal. Love them or Loath them, Smartbars are the future, this is the reason ARB brought Smartbar a few years ago. ARB are future proofing them selves for if and when metal bars are banned.


OJ.

[oscaroo]

Yay I have a smartbar. I sleep well at night too.

[jkwpajero]

NSW is watering down the Australian Standars AS4876.1 for bullbar construction, I suspect this decision is due to pressure from the aftermarket industry and other groups that have a vested interest. However this will only give the Pedestrian Council of Australia more exposure to continue their fight to have all bullbars banned from vehicle operating in the city and suburbs.

The Pedestrian Council of Australia is a road safety lobby group which seeks to promote walking as a transport mode.The chairman and sole member is Harold Scruby and he is well versed and practiced in getting publicly for his causes. He has contacts in all manner of departments and I suggest that the name Pedestrian Council of Australia, suggesting it is a national body with large numbers of members was always a good ploy.


James

[old Jack]

The Pedestrian Council of Australia is a road safety lobby group which seeks to promote walking as a transport mode.The chairman and sole member is Harold Scruby and he is well versed and practiced in getting publicly for his causes. He has contacts in all manner of departments and I suggest that the name Pedestrian Council of Australia, suggesting it is a national body with large numbers of members was always a good ploy.


James

That is very interesting James. As the saying goes "it is the squeaky wheel that gets oiled" and in the age of "populist politics" anything is possible as science is being abandoned for "blind faith".

In most countries in Europe, bullbars are banned and all cars are tested for pedestrian impact and rated. Here in Australia we have followed the Euro model rather than the USA model when it comes to crash worthiness of cars, so we will see more technology being used to reduce injury to pedestrians through frontal design, bonnet/windscreen airbags and forward collision mitigation systems.

I have followed the development of Smartbar for over 30 years, as I have always thought it was a great idea but underdeveloped.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/exports-no-bar-for-smartbar/news-story/01976418d80cf9cad4b00b26790277fe

OJ.

[ron.dunn]

I have followed the development of Smartbar for over 30 years, as I have always thought it was a great idea but underdeveloped.

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/exports-no-bar-for-smartbar/news-story/01976418d80cf9cad4b00b26790277fe

OJ.

I liked the idea of Smartbar but then I found they sold out to ARB, and I've not had good experiences with ARB in the past.

[rgrubby]

We have limits on bull bars in NZ too and we use ADR as a compliance standard, but the following paragraph on our Transport Agencies website makes me wonder how long even that will last.

"Tubular metal bullbars without deformable padding can be very dangerous in crashes involving pedestrians. Further research may show that tubular metal bullbars are simply too dangerous – if you fit them to your vehicle, please note that you may have to remove them at some point in the future."

https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/vehicle-safety/vehicle-equipment/bullbars/

[old Jack]

I liked the idea of Smartbar but then I found they sold out to ARB, and I've not had good experiences with ARB in the past.

Smartbar was originally a South Australian privately owned company, it was purchased by Hills Industries by default as Smartbar was a division of Team Poly which made rain water tanks, Hill industries was only really interested in the water tank side of the business. Hill Industires then sold of Smartbar to ARB. This was a very strategic purchase by ARB and it was around the same time they also released their alloy bar range. ARB had built its reputation on a "steel in best" mantra, but as the design of new cars changed and requirements for frontal protection systems to be airbag tested.
As front axle load limits were not being increased, and as cars got heavier, then the ability to hang 60kg - 90kg on the front end has been reduced. ARB is an aftermarket supplier and must adapt their product range to suit newer 4wds and the demands of the recreational 4wder, otherwise they and their products will be obsolete.

ARB started as a private company and has grown enormously and is now a public listed global company, with a manufacturing facility in Thailand as well as Melbourne, their springs are made by King Sprngs and their shockers by Monroe, all Australian Made.

The founders of both Smartbar and ARB, took a risk and worked very hard to build their companies which they they then sold on, so good on them, they deserve the comfortable retirement they now enjoy and worked so hard for.

Just because Smartbar is now owned by ARB, should not deter you from fitting a Smartbar, if you trust in the science behind the bars. Most people who will not buy a Smartbar, say it is because of the appearance but reality it is they think having a plastic bullbar somehow reduces their manliness.

OJ.

[jkwpajero]

I have always been a fan if the Smartbar, even if it looked as ugly as. The idea was always a winner and now it is under the umbrella of ARB maybe some more development can be done to improve the aesthetics of it and some good looking ones are now available. It is certainly the future for a lighter bar for touring vehicles. However I fear that the pricing will be kept high and that may deter some people from opting it over steel or alloy.


James

[Dug1]

Truth is, where I live, a good solid bulbar is a necessity not a fashion statement. Lose count of how many roos and deer I see every morning coming to work. Usually manage to hit at least 1 or 2 a year. This does not include minor brushes with them.

Worst ones are those that run into the side of the vehicle = lots of expensive damage.

On the Harold subject- try to find how many members his alleged council has. But he is a very good 'go to man' for the media whenever a 4WD issues comes up.

BTW- I have an ARB steel bar that meets current rules.

[Paj11]

Hi, I don’t want to worry about angles, protrusions, etc etc, I have an Arb deluxe bar fitted to my NT, so who do I see to make sure it’s an approved type and legal, and get it signed off? That way if an over zealous cop pulls me up I just show them the paper work.