./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/AUS/24
5 November 2003
(03-5910)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original: English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   AUSTRALIA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:
Department of Transport and Regional Services / Vehicle Safety Standards.
111 Alinga Street Canberra City, ACT  2600.
Telephone: (02) 6274 7111, and
Fax: (02) 6274  7714,
E-mail : Allan.Jonas@dotars.gov.au
Web-site address: http://www.dotars.gov.au/
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   The function of this
national standard is to specify requirements for the provision of speedometers and applies to
all vehicle categories except trailers.  The proposed new technical regulation aligns relevant
Australian design requirements with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe(UNECE) R 39.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Australian Design
Rule 18/03:  Instrumentation (draft):  (12 pages, in English)
6. Description of content:   This proposal updates Australian Design Rule 18 (motor vehicle
instrumentation).  The current ADR 18 addresses detailed requirements for the location of a
number of visual indicators including warning lamps, tell tales and speedometers as well as
technical requirements for odometers/speedometers.
The proposed revised rule aligns speedometer requirements with ECE R 39.
http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/str_design_rule18.htmG/TBT/N/AUS/24
Page 2
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
ADR 18 is being reviewed as part of an overall review of the Australian Design Rules to
examine whether it continues to be cost-beneficial in its present form, and if not, to explore
possible refinements including harmonisation with international standards such as
ECE R 39.
The underlying purpose of this regulation is the protection of human health and safety.
There is a well-established causal link between driving at inappropriate speeds and road
accidents.  The availability of accurate and correctly-installed speedometers is necessary so
that motorists can gauge the vehicle’s speed to comply with posted speed limits or even
drive below those limits if prevailing conditions so dictate, reducing the risk of speed-
related accidents.
8. Relevant documents:
Australian Design Rule 18/03:  Instrumentation (draft)
Regulation Impact Statement for Standards for Instrumentation (September 2003)Motor Vehicle Standards Act (1989)
http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/str_design_rule18.htm
9. Proposed date of adoption:  March 2004
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2005 (subject to negotiation)
10. Final date for comments:   29 November 2003
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [   ] or address, telephone and fax
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:
http://www.dotars.gov.au/transreg/str_design_rule18.htm
Comments can be sent directly to:  Allan.Jonas@dotars.gov.au