croozza
Active Member
I found the following on the net so I have dumped it in here for all to see (hope it works fine) regarding the new laws for Fraser Island, please note, it is for hire vehicles only.
Road safety on Fraser Island for 4WD hire vehicles
February 2010
What are the changes to driving a 4WD hire vehicle on Fraser Island?
The following initiatives were recently announced to improve road safety on Fraser Island:
a maximum of eight occupants allowed in a 4WD hire vehicle
prohibiting luggage storage on the roof of a 4WD hire vehicle
reducing speed limits
requiring seatbelts to be fitted to Australian Design Rules standards
requiring a maximum of eight seats, facing forward or rearward (not side-facing).
Detail on these new requirements and the rationale for these changes is outlined below.
Why are these changes necessary?
A review of crash data of incidents between 2003 and 2007 showed that there was a serious risk for tourists driving 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island. The major findings were:
106 casualties resulted from road crashes on Fraser Island. Of these, 45 (or 42.5%) were serious casualties
there was an average of 2.36 casualties per crash on Fraser Island, compared with 1.33 casualties per crash in Queensland
more than 40% of casualties were the drivers and passengers of hire vehicles with 9 to 12 occupants.
In response to the risks faced by tourists travelling in 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island, a range of initiatives were announced by the Queensland Government in July 2009.
What initiatives have already been introduced to improve road safety on Fraser Island? Measures already introduced include:
maximum speed limit on Fraser Island beaches reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h
maximum speed limit in townships and inland roads on Fraser Island reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h
new speed limit signs installed
advisory signs installed at each barge entry point
targeted police patrols to enforce the new speed limits
random inspections of 4WD hire vehicles and enforcement activities by the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Inspectors on Fraser Island and on the mainland near the entry point of Fraser Island.
Are other road safety changes taking place?
Additional road safety initiatives will occur in two stages:
Stage one
By 1 April 2010, 4WD hire vehicles driven on Fraser Island must not carry more than eight occupants, including the driver, and all luggage must be safely secured inside the vehicle. Please note, these new rules do not apply to private 4WDs (non-hire vehicles) due to their reduced crash risk. However, it is recommended that all drivers consider passenger numbers and the weight of loads on the vehicle roof while driving on Fraser Island.
Fines: The driver of the vehicle may face a fine of $300 and 3 demerit points for not adhering to restrictions.
Stage two
By 31 December 2010, 4WD hire vehicles driven on Fraser Island must:
have all seats facing forward or rearward (not side-facing)
have a maximum of eight seats
be fitted with seatbelts that meet Australian Design Rule standards.
This means that troop carriers or other large 4WD hire vehicles that do not meet these specifications will require modification or replacement.
Fines: Stage one fines will still apply to drivers.
Will these changes improve road safety?
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has undertaken computer modelling to better understand the road safety risks for 4WDs.
The results found that the rollover stability of a Toyota Landcruiser troop carrier would be improved by restricting the number of passengers and ensuring that no luggage was placed on the roof.
Will these changes be happening anywhere else?
Crash data on Moreton Island, Cooloola, Teewah and Rainbow Beaches has also been examined to understand if there are similar road safety issues in these areas. This analysis found that there were not the same high number of crashes and casualties in these areas between 2003 and 2007. Therefore, there are no proposed changes for these areas. However, the department will continue to monitor road crash data for any possible changes to the crash risk in these areas.
What about tag-along tours?
The responsibility for issuing permits and setting conditions for tag-along tours lies with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
New laws will apply to all 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island, even those used by operators conducting tag-along tours.
Vehicle standards and loads
Any vehicle being used on a road, including a beach such as Fraser Island must comply with all regulations that apply to the vehicle and its use. These regulations include, but are not limited to:
Vehicle standards – the vehicle is safe to operate and has not been modified without appropriate approval or outside the manufacturer’s specifications or vehicle category.
Load – the load on the vehicle which includes passengers and goods must be within the load capacity of the vehicle (usually GVM). Overloading a vehicle greatly increases the risk of a crash.
Modifying an existing vehicle
If you have to modify your hire vehicles to comply with the new laws you must have the modifications performed and certified by an Approved Person and/or an Approved Person Engineer.
It is a legal requirement that any installation of seats, seatbelts and any change to a vehicle category must be certified by an Approved Person Engineer who is approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads for LK2 and LO1 approvals.
You can go to any Approved Person to commence the modification process but all modifications related to seats and seatbelts, have to be designed so that the vehicle still meets occupant protection standards. It is also critical for the correct certification to be received before any modifications take place, particularly if the modifications will change the vehicle category.
Please note: A vehicle category change will occur when changing the seating capacity and configuration of an 11 seater (MD1 category) version Toyota Troop Carrier to forward or rear facing seats. The number of the seats installed in the vehicle will affect its subsequent vehicle category. If the three (3) seater and five (5) seater (NA category) versions have their seating capacity modified to have up to seven (7) seats they should remain in the NA category.
If the design of the seats and seatbelts and/or any category change is not certified by an Approved Person Engineer (with LK2 codes and LO1 code) then it is not a legal modification. Modifications performed without the correct certification are invalid and are an offence under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 1999 and you could be fined a maximum of $4,000.
You must check that the Approved Person you have chosen to undertake the modifications is either an Approved Person Engineer or has had the design and any vehicle category change approved and certified by an Approved Person Engineer (with LK2 codes and LO1 code) before the modifications take place.
Once the modification has been certified and approved, a modification plate will be attached to the vehicle and you will be issued with a Modification Certificate. You must take a copy of the Modification Certificate to a Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre where the vehicle seating capacity details will be updated.
More information
The contact details for businesses in the Approved Persons Scheme are available from Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centres or you can contact the Modifications Help Desk, during business hours, on 07 3253 4851.
Public enquiries:
For information about tag-along tours phone the Department of Environment and Resource Management on 1300 130 372.
For information about road safety issues on Fraser Island contact Sonya Kupfer from the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 4639 0718 or email
sonya.m.kupfer@tmr.qld.gov.au
Media enquiries:
For media enquiries about tag-along tours contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management on 3224 7792 or email media@derm.qld.gov.au
For media enquiries about road safety issues on Fraser Island contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 3306 7753 or email CCRmedia@tmr.qld.gov.au
Hope that is helpful for all.
Road safety on Fraser Island for 4WD hire vehicles
February 2010
What are the changes to driving a 4WD hire vehicle on Fraser Island?
The following initiatives were recently announced to improve road safety on Fraser Island:
a maximum of eight occupants allowed in a 4WD hire vehicle
prohibiting luggage storage on the roof of a 4WD hire vehicle
reducing speed limits
requiring seatbelts to be fitted to Australian Design Rules standards
requiring a maximum of eight seats, facing forward or rearward (not side-facing).
Detail on these new requirements and the rationale for these changes is outlined below.
Why are these changes necessary?
A review of crash data of incidents between 2003 and 2007 showed that there was a serious risk for tourists driving 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island. The major findings were:
106 casualties resulted from road crashes on Fraser Island. Of these, 45 (or 42.5%) were serious casualties
there was an average of 2.36 casualties per crash on Fraser Island, compared with 1.33 casualties per crash in Queensland
more than 40% of casualties were the drivers and passengers of hire vehicles with 9 to 12 occupants.
In response to the risks faced by tourists travelling in 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island, a range of initiatives were announced by the Queensland Government in July 2009.
What initiatives have already been introduced to improve road safety on Fraser Island? Measures already introduced include:
maximum speed limit on Fraser Island beaches reduced from 100 km/h to 80 km/h
maximum speed limit in townships and inland roads on Fraser Island reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h
new speed limit signs installed
advisory signs installed at each barge entry point
targeted police patrols to enforce the new speed limits
random inspections of 4WD hire vehicles and enforcement activities by the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Inspectors on Fraser Island and on the mainland near the entry point of Fraser Island.
Are other road safety changes taking place?
Additional road safety initiatives will occur in two stages:
Stage one
By 1 April 2010, 4WD hire vehicles driven on Fraser Island must not carry more than eight occupants, including the driver, and all luggage must be safely secured inside the vehicle. Please note, these new rules do not apply to private 4WDs (non-hire vehicles) due to their reduced crash risk. However, it is recommended that all drivers consider passenger numbers and the weight of loads on the vehicle roof while driving on Fraser Island.
Fines: The driver of the vehicle may face a fine of $300 and 3 demerit points for not adhering to restrictions.
Stage two
By 31 December 2010, 4WD hire vehicles driven on Fraser Island must:
have all seats facing forward or rearward (not side-facing)
have a maximum of eight seats
be fitted with seatbelts that meet Australian Design Rule standards.
This means that troop carriers or other large 4WD hire vehicles that do not meet these specifications will require modification or replacement.
Fines: Stage one fines will still apply to drivers.
Will these changes improve road safety?
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has undertaken computer modelling to better understand the road safety risks for 4WDs.
The results found that the rollover stability of a Toyota Landcruiser troop carrier would be improved by restricting the number of passengers and ensuring that no luggage was placed on the roof.
Will these changes be happening anywhere else?
Crash data on Moreton Island, Cooloola, Teewah and Rainbow Beaches has also been examined to understand if there are similar road safety issues in these areas. This analysis found that there were not the same high number of crashes and casualties in these areas between 2003 and 2007. Therefore, there are no proposed changes for these areas. However, the department will continue to monitor road crash data for any possible changes to the crash risk in these areas.
What about tag-along tours?
The responsibility for issuing permits and setting conditions for tag-along tours lies with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).
New laws will apply to all 4WD hire vehicles on Fraser Island, even those used by operators conducting tag-along tours.
Vehicle standards and loads
Any vehicle being used on a road, including a beach such as Fraser Island must comply with all regulations that apply to the vehicle and its use. These regulations include, but are not limited to:
Vehicle standards – the vehicle is safe to operate and has not been modified without appropriate approval or outside the manufacturer’s specifications or vehicle category.
Load – the load on the vehicle which includes passengers and goods must be within the load capacity of the vehicle (usually GVM). Overloading a vehicle greatly increases the risk of a crash.
Modifying an existing vehicle
If you have to modify your hire vehicles to comply with the new laws you must have the modifications performed and certified by an Approved Person and/or an Approved Person Engineer.
It is a legal requirement that any installation of seats, seatbelts and any change to a vehicle category must be certified by an Approved Person Engineer who is approved by the Department of Transport and Main Roads for LK2 and LO1 approvals.
You can go to any Approved Person to commence the modification process but all modifications related to seats and seatbelts, have to be designed so that the vehicle still meets occupant protection standards. It is also critical for the correct certification to be received before any modifications take place, particularly if the modifications will change the vehicle category.
Please note: A vehicle category change will occur when changing the seating capacity and configuration of an 11 seater (MD1 category) version Toyota Troop Carrier to forward or rear facing seats. The number of the seats installed in the vehicle will affect its subsequent vehicle category. If the three (3) seater and five (5) seater (NA category) versions have their seating capacity modified to have up to seven (7) seats they should remain in the NA category.
If the design of the seats and seatbelts and/or any category change is not certified by an Approved Person Engineer (with LK2 codes and LO1 code) then it is not a legal modification. Modifications performed without the correct certification are invalid and are an offence under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Vehicle Standards and Safety) Regulation 1999 and you could be fined a maximum of $4,000.
You must check that the Approved Person you have chosen to undertake the modifications is either an Approved Person Engineer or has had the design and any vehicle category change approved and certified by an Approved Person Engineer (with LK2 codes and LO1 code) before the modifications take place.
Once the modification has been certified and approved, a modification plate will be attached to the vehicle and you will be issued with a Modification Certificate. You must take a copy of the Modification Certificate to a Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre where the vehicle seating capacity details will be updated.
More information
The contact details for businesses in the Approved Persons Scheme are available from Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centres or you can contact the Modifications Help Desk, during business hours, on 07 3253 4851.
Public enquiries:
For information about tag-along tours phone the Department of Environment and Resource Management on 1300 130 372.
For information about road safety issues on Fraser Island contact Sonya Kupfer from the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 4639 0718 or email
sonya.m.kupfer@tmr.qld.gov.au
Media enquiries:
For media enquiries about tag-along tours contact the Department of Environment and Resource Management on 3224 7792 or email media@derm.qld.gov.au
For media enquiries about road safety issues on Fraser Island contact the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 3306 7753 or email CCRmedia@tmr.qld.gov.au
Hope that is helpful for all.
