Safety Regulations for Forward Control Passenger Vehicles in Australia

Forward-control light commercial vehicles (vans) adapted as 8-9 seat passenger cars have become increasingly popular as family vehicles. Because of their design and certification category they are not subject to all the safety design rules for passenger cars. The Federal office of Road Safety is following a programme of up-grading safety requirements for these vehicles aimed at giving the same general level of safety as passenger cars. This paper will discuss the development of safety requirements, new technical requirements and outline administrative aspects including the implementation programme.