Content guide

General safety warning

Driver behaviours

Integration of safety features

Chain of Responsibility (CoR)

Tampering with safety systems

General safety warning

Maintenance is critical

1. These systems assume a known level of performance of critical items such as brakes. If the brakes are significantly out of adjustment (e.g. unroadworthy) they won't perform as the system expects.
2. A red "ABS" lamp either solid or blinking means the system may not be operating correctly.
3. Owners, operators, and drivers of heavy vehicles and trailer combinations should carry out regular routine inspections and maintenance as per OEM recommendations to ensure braking system performance is optimised. Any brake faults found or observed should be reported and repaired as soon as possible.

Modifications are critical

Modification of the truck or trailer' drive line such wheel sizes, axle ratios and brakes will require the ADAS to be recalibrated to support the change. This must be done with guidance from the truck or trailer manufacturer. A significant and on going change in the type of goods carried will in some cases also requite ADAS system settings to be adjusted e.g when transitioning from carrying a low center of gravity load to a high center of gravity load.

Driver's responsibilities and legal warning regarding Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS):

1. ADAS described here are not intended to be a substitute for safe driving behaviour. Driving a vehicle fitted with ADAS recklessly will not reduce the risk or severity of a crash.
2. ADAS are aids designed to assist the driver in emergency or unexpected situations. They may range from unexpected changes in road conditions, momentary inattention, or unexpected road user behaviour.  In these cases, the ADAS will reduce the severity of the accident or avoid it entirely.
3. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in front and around you, for vehicle speed, steering and for braking in adequate time.
4. You should always adapt your driving style to suit prevailing road and weather conditions. Always drive carefully. A driver practicing good driver behaviour will not need to make any adjustment in driving style as a result of a vehicle that is fitted with ADAS.

Feature evolution

These safety systems undergo natural and continuous development, which means that some of the content of this multimedia package may not be up to date. The developer has aimed to undertake to the best of their ability to provide a complete and thorough information package development for all brands. However, the OEM will also be in the best position to provide specific details as to how your system will operate.   

Video footage

All scenes have been shot utlising professional heavy vehicle operators. Scenes shot on private land are in controlled environments.

Like any safety equipment it relies on individuals to use the equipment correctly. No safety system is 100% fail safe without driver input and understanding.

Just because the vehicle is fitted with safety features like ABS, Electronic Stability, and Automated Emergency Braking it does not negate the levels of responsibility or the driver’s requirement to concentrate and drive to the conditions at any moment. The braking safety systems have been designed to complement the driver’s skill in reading and adjusting for road conditions.

The vehicle size, weight and rolling dynamics do not change with the addition of these safety systems so drivers must not rely on these systems to allow them to corner faster or brake later. If a driver is operating the vehicle in a way that causes these safety systems to intervene consistently, then the vehicle is very likely not being driven to suit the road conditions.

A common occurrence where a braking stability event may occur is carrying too much speed leading into and through a roundabout, e.g., entering a roundabout too quickly will destabilise the combination as a hard steering input is required. Carrying excessive speed into the roundabout will cause the trailer to lean outwards and roll over point will likely be exceeded. The anti-roll system is designed to automatically engage to slow the vehicle and prevent the rollover, however it is important to note that the technology cannot be relied upon to prevent 100% of rollovers.

The driver should appreciate the size and weight of the vehicle and drive the vehicle as if it has no safety systems fitted.

Drivers should also make sure that they always connect all leads to the combination when coupling up.

Carry out pre operation inspections prior to driving their vehicles and in particular the in-cabin warning systems for functionality.

Drivers also have a responsibility to report any system faults when they occur.

Technology is being integrated into trucks and trailers with the various systems communicating with each other to vary and/or verify inputs. This is done for a range of reasons to prevent fraudulent interference through to providing redundancies for safety critical systems.

ADAS are systems that operate to assist the driver in the driving task. These systems provide visual and audio warnings first and will then intervene if no action is taken by the driver during potentially hazardous situations.

Automated Driving Features (ADF) (or functions) as systems that are activated by the driver and provide a sustained operation of part of the driving task, e.g., adaptive cruise control can control the speed (up to a pre-determined maximum) to maintain a safe following distance. These are predominately SAE Level 1 and Level 2 systems.

These systems may include, but are not limited to the following: -

• LDWS (Lane Departure Warning Systems).
• AEBs (Advanced Emergency Braking system)
• Active Cruise Control
• GPS/speed sign recognition systems
• Systems using forward, side or rear looking radars

Unauthorised manipulation of any one system could impact on other systems.

Having an advanced safety system above the minimum requirement stipulated in the ADR may assist with meeting your CoR obligation. It should not be considered as either a mandatory requirement or the completion of your CoR responsibilities. 

Where a vehicle is to be modified resulting in non-compliance of a safety system, it is recommended that an alternative approach be undertaken that would ensure the safety functionality of the vehicle is maintained.

It is essential that any modification certified under VSB 6 must answer yes to the following question ‘Is the advanced braking system (where fitted) un-affected or re-certified after the vehicle modification?’

For further information on the CoR, please click on the following link: www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/chain-of-responsibility

Under the Australian Heavy Vehicle National Law, it is a requirement that, while the truck is in service, it continues to comply with the Australian Design Rules (ADR) in force when the vehicle was built. This includes systems that may be covered by an ADR, but only if fitted.  As a result, if the equipment is installed, it must function correctly or the road vehicle could be defected and put off the road, if ADR compliance is not maintained.

The ADRs also have requirements for optional equipment. ABS became mandatory for trucks from <date>, but the ADR has requirements for ABS that wis fitted or retrofitted as an option to trucks built from <date>. These regulations can be complex, so its important you check with the brake system manufacturer or an AVE when fitting or carrying out work on an advanced braking system.

Many vehicle manufacturers provide safety systems that are not governed by an ADR regulation. These safety systems are designed to further protect vehicle occupants and other road users. It is strongly recommended that such systems are not disabled, either by the vehicle owner, operator, or as a result of vehicle modifications. Again, the tampering may impact on CoR compliance.