The Australian Government has announced it will no longer require heavy vehicles registered under the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme to be fitted with spray suppression devices.
Warren Truss, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, said regulations requiring B-double trucks to be fitted with additional spray suppression devices around their wheel arches were unnecessary and failing to align with laws applying to state registered vehicles.
“These devices have been found to be ineffectual in reducing tyre spray on wet roads, but impose a significant cost on truck operators who have to fit and maintain them,” said Truss. “Research indicates the spray suppression devices provide no added safety benefit to other road users, like standard mudguards, that are already installed on all such vehicles.”
Truss said the removal of this unnecessary regulatory burden will save the heavy vehicle industry around $8.3 million a year and brings the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme into line with B-doubles operating under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
“This is a victory for common sense and will remove yet another barrier for the heavy vehicle industry in moving freight across our borders efficiently and productively,” said Truss.
The new regulatory arrangements are effective immediately.
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