South Australian Consolidated Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (VEHICLE STANDARDS) RULES 1999 - REG 129

129—Motor vehicle braking system requirements

        (1)         In this rule:

"independent brake", for a vehicle, means a brake that is operated entirely separately from any other brake on the vehicle, except for any drum, disc or part, on which a shoe, band or friction pad makes contact, that is common to 2 or more brakes.

        (2)         A motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels built, or used, mainly for transporting goods or people by road must be fitted with:

            (a)         a braking system that:

                  (i)         consists of brakes fitted to all wheels of the vehicle; and

                  (ii)         has at least 2 separate methods of activation, arranged so effective braking remains on at least 2 wheels if a method fails; or

            (b)         2 independent brakes, each of which, when in operation, acts directly on at least half the number of wheels of the vehicle.

        (3)         The braking system of a motor vehicle mentioned in subrule (2) that was built after 1945 must have a service brake operating on all wheels that, when applied:

            (a)         acts directly on the wheels and not through the vehicle's transmission; or

            (b)         acts on a shaft between a differential of the vehicle and a wheel.

        (4)         The braking system of a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels must have a parking brake that:

            (a)         is held in the applied position by direct mechanical action without the intervention of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic device; and

            (b)         is fitted with a locking device that can hold the brake in the applied position; and

            (c)         has its own separate control.

        (5)         The parking brake may also be the emergency brake.

        (6)         If 2 or more independent brakes are fitted to a motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels, the brakes must be arranged so brakes are applied to all the wheels on at least 1 axle of the vehicle when any brake is operated.

        (7)         A motor bike or motor trike must be fitted with:

            (a)         2 independent brakes; or

            (b)         a single brake that acts directly on all wheels of the vehicle and is arranged so effective braking remains on at least 1 wheel if a part of the system fails.

        (8)         Subrule (7) applies to a motor bike with a sidecar attached as if the sidecar were not attached.

        (9)         A motor trike must have a parking brake that is held in the applied position by mechanical means.