I came across this on another website and then looked at the motoring websites to cornfirm.
There is no mention that cameras can be used in place of mirrors.
And sorry Tassie people, couldn't find a regulation.
New South Wales RMS website (formally the RTA) states Where the trailer is wider than the towing vehicle, side mirrors on the towing vehicle may project beyond the width of the trailer. However, when the trailer is detached, these mirrors must be removed if they project more than 150 mm beyond the extreme width of the towing vehicle. [In the case of vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), collapsible mirrors may project up to 230 mm beyond the width of the vehicle provided they are capable of collapsing to 150 mm]. NB: Any towed vehicle is referred to as a trailer in their publication.
I do recall quite some time back that in NSW the govt had to re-imberse motorists for fines issued by over zealous police relating to caravan mirrors. I cant remember the exact circumstances but was to do with vision.
Queensland Transport website, Safe Towing booklet simply states Extra mirrors are required for towing large trailers.
If you are in Qld, does that mean you are breaking the law if you have Clearview mirrors fitted?
South Australia Drivers Handbook 7th Edition states At least one rear vision mirror must be fitted to each side of any vehicle towing a trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle.
Victoria (Vic Roads) website states It is important to have adequate rear vision when the caravan is attached. Depending on the width of the caravan, you may need to fit extension mirrors to the towing vehicle.
Northern Territory Road Users Handbook states At least one mirror must be fitted to each side of any vehicle when towing a trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle.
Personally I think cameras are a great idea but not as a replacement for mirrors.
I was also confused about whether the "offending vehicle" had cameras or mirrors fitted.
Daryl
(edited for Italics)
-- Edited by DandS on Monday 17th of December 2012 10:31:16 AM
Beth54 said
02:22 PM Dec 17, 2012
Oh! I see! Well, that makes it even more weird liddle!
brickies said
02:59 PM Dec 17, 2012
I don't beleive the post has got off track the post was mirror vs camera confusion ,
Cupie said
06:43 PM Dec 17, 2012
I have never used cameras, so can't comment on their worth.
I still use some DIY modified 14 year old clip on mirrors that now have longer arms so that they extend out to just outside the width of the van. They have light weight brackets that attach to the weather shield screws to stop them folding back when very large trucks pass in the opposite directions on highways like the Newell.
Although I can see the rear corners of my van I can't see anyone tailgating. My technique is to keep an eye out for 'shadows' from tailgaters, and I occasionally give the rig a careful SLIGHT wobble to see if there is anything close behind.
I have a large fish eye mirror stuck to the LHS tug mirror to enable a good view of the road edge as well as blind spots. I adjust the tug mirror on the RHS to cover the blind spot on that side.
I, like CG, find it strange that people would even consider driving without adequate mirrors.
ozjohn said
07:39 PM Dec 17, 2012
Delta18.
Sorry Neil, the clause numbers have changed and a few pics have been deleted or moved since I last looked at ADR14/02. You'll find the pic I referred to (Fig 5) at the top of page 36. (15.2.4.4)
Cheers, OJ
johnq said
11:06 PM Dec 17, 2012
Regardless of what rig you are driving, including a car alone, there are many drivers who for some inexplicable reason want to tuck themselves into your blind spot.
CG's post has provoked some much needed discussion on how to comply with the regulations.
CG's post concerned complying with the regs, sure, but the thrust was the practical considerations in getting a satisfactory field of view to drive and tow safely. A camera should be mounted high enough to get a commanding view and avoid the splashes and grime from the road. Mounting two cameras to the trailer chassis at the rear is odd and is unlikely to make the best use of them. Perhaps they didn't want to penetrate the van skin for a more suitable high mount.
With my previous rigs and wide tow vehicles I did well enough with large mirrors. But a high centre mounted camera on the rear of the van would have helped considerably.
The intent of the regulations is that you have a decent view of the trailer sides right to the tail of the trailer. If that is not possible to obtain with mirrors extended for a narrow car and a wide van then a rear mounted camera is not going to provide the necessary view of the sides of the trailer. It is looking the other way. Alternatively, maybe there is the option of side mounting a small camera on the leading (front) edge of the trailer on both sides to give that necessary view to the rear. Otherwise, how is it possible to meet the over-arching requirement to see the sides of the trailer and drive the rig safely?
mr glassies said
04:21 AM Dec 19, 2012
all i can say is 1 nation 1 policy no confusion easy i thinkum (no spell check)
dibs
Cupie said
05:01 PM Dec 19, 2012
mr glassies wrote:
all i can say is 1 nation 1 policy no confusion easy i thinkum (no spell check)
dibs
We've come a long way since the pre-federation situation with States charging taxes / import duties on goods passing between States.
But there's still a long way to go.
State's rights & inter State jealousies are a concern.
The sooner all States adopt the Qld Laws / regulations et. al. the better.
(Maybe then we would let NSW win a State of Origin series or maybe even let Vic join in the contest) ... LOL
03_troopy said
07:19 PM Dec 20, 2012
Cupie wrote:
mr glassies wrote:
all i can say is 1 nation 1 policy no confusion easy i thinkum (no spell check)
dibs
We've come a long way since the pre-federation situation with States charging taxes / import duties on goods passing between States.
But there's still a long way to go.
State's rights & inter State jealousies are a concern.
The sooner all States adopt the Qld Laws / regulations et. al. the better.
(Maybe then we would let NSW win a State of Origin series or maybe even let Vic join in the contest) ... LOL
As long as we don't also adopt their driving habits...
How do you give a QLD'er a "crash" driving course?
.
.
.
.
.
.
Let him drive around Sydney or Melbourne for a couple of hours.....
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Thursday 20th of December 2012 07:25:32 PM
Cupie said
04:24 AM Dec 21, 2012
If you want a crash driving course then go to China (mainland). Unbelieveable!
The only thing that saves them is that the general speed in the built up areas is around 40km/hr. Probably because of the traffic chaos & state of the roads and of course the seemingly home made trucks based on stationary engines with belt driven drive trains.
Of course the fantastic freeways are something else ... but devoid of 'local' traffic & dodgy vehicles.
03_troopy said
02:46 AM Dec 22, 2012
Yes Cupie I know what you mean. We spent a couple of years in Malaysia and travelled around a bit while we were there. The most used devices are the horn and the headlight flasher.... Especially when they were overtaking from the opposite direction and you were in their way.
Bucko said
08:23 PM Dec 24, 2012
Hi All,
I've read all the posts before this and I would ask if it would be better to see only what I'm legally required to in regards to what is going on around the vehile or more than I really need, I have 2 cameras and 4 mirrors on my slide on camper and truck and still miss some of what is going on around me, I know what I'd prefer, MORE!!!!!
I came across this on another website and then looked at the motoring websites to cornfirm.
There is no mention that cameras can be used in place of mirrors.
And sorry Tassie people, couldn't find a regulation.
New South Wales RMS website (formally the RTA) states Where the trailer is wider than the towing vehicle, side mirrors on the towing vehicle may project beyond the width of the trailer. However, when the trailer is detached, these mirrors must be removed if they project more than 150 mm beyond the extreme width of the towing vehicle. [In the case of vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), collapsible mirrors may project up to 230 mm beyond the width of the vehicle provided they are capable of collapsing to 150 mm]. NB: Any towed vehicle is referred to as a trailer in their publication.
I do recall quite some time back that in NSW the govt had to re-imberse motorists for fines issued by over zealous police relating to caravan mirrors. I cant remember the exact circumstances but was to do with vision.
Queensland Transport website, Safe Towing booklet simply states Extra mirrors are required for towing large trailers.
If you are in Qld, does that mean you are breaking the law if you have Clearview mirrors fitted?
South Australia Drivers Handbook 7th Edition states At least one rear vision mirror must be fitted to each side of any vehicle towing a trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle.
Victoria (Vic Roads) website states It is important to have adequate rear vision when the caravan is attached. Depending on the width of the caravan, you may need to fit extension mirrors to the towing vehicle.
Northern Territory Road Users Handbook states At least one mirror must be fitted to each side of any vehicle when towing a trailer that is wider than the towing vehicle.
Personally I think cameras are a great idea but not as a replacement for mirrors.
I was also confused about whether the "offending vehicle" had cameras or mirrors fitted.
Daryl
(edited for Italics)
-- Edited by DandS on Monday 17th of December 2012 10:31:16 AM
Oh! I see! Well, that makes it even more weird liddle!
I have never used cameras, so can't comment on their worth.
I still use some DIY modified 14 year old clip on mirrors that now have longer arms so that they extend out to just outside the width of the van. They have light weight brackets that attach to the weather shield screws to stop them folding back when very large trucks pass in the opposite directions on highways like the Newell.
Although I can see the rear corners of my van I can't see anyone tailgating. My technique is to keep an eye out for 'shadows' from tailgaters, and I occasionally give the rig a careful SLIGHT wobble to see if there is anything close behind.
I have a large fish eye mirror stuck to the LHS tug mirror to enable a good view of the road edge as well as blind spots. I adjust the tug mirror on the RHS to cover the blind spot on that side.
I, like CG, find it strange that people would even consider driving without adequate mirrors.
Delta18.
Sorry Neil, the clause numbers have changed and a few pics have been deleted or moved since I last looked at ADR14/02.
You'll find the pic I referred to (Fig 5) at the top of page 36. (15.2.4.4)
Cheers, OJ
CG's post has provoked some much needed discussion on how to comply with the regulations.
CG's post concerned complying with the regs, sure, but the thrust was the practical considerations in getting a satisfactory field of view to drive and tow safely. A camera should be mounted high enough to get a commanding view and avoid the splashes and grime from the road. Mounting two cameras to the trailer chassis at the rear is odd and is unlikely to make the best use of them. Perhaps they didn't want to penetrate the van skin for a more suitable high mount.
With my previous rigs and wide tow vehicles I did well enough with large mirrors. But a high centre mounted camera on the rear of the van would have helped considerably.
The intent of the regulations is that you have a decent view of the trailer sides right to the tail of the trailer. If that is not possible to obtain with mirrors extended for a narrow car and a wide van then a rear mounted camera is not going to provide the necessary view of the sides of the trailer. It is looking the other way. Alternatively, maybe there is the option of side mounting a small camera on the leading (front) edge of the trailer on both sides to give that necessary view to the rear. Otherwise, how is it possible to meet the over-arching requirement to see the sides of the trailer and drive the rig safely?
dibs
We've come a long way since the pre-federation situation with States charging taxes / import duties on goods passing between States.
But there's still a long way to go.
State's rights & inter State jealousies are a concern.
The sooner all States adopt the Qld Laws / regulations et. al. the better.
(Maybe then we would let NSW win a State of Origin series or maybe even let Vic join in the contest) ... LOL
As long as we don't also adopt their driving habits...
How do you give a QLD'er a "crash" driving course?
.
.
.
.
.
.
Let him drive around Sydney or Melbourne for a couple of hours.....
-- Edited by 03_troopy on Thursday 20th of December 2012 07:25:32 PM
If you want a crash driving course then go to China (mainland). Unbelieveable!
The only thing that saves them is that the general speed in the built up areas is around 40km/hr. Probably because of the traffic chaos & state of the roads and of course the seemingly home made trucks based on stationary engines with belt driven drive trains.
Of course the fantastic freeways are something else ... but devoid of 'local' traffic & dodgy vehicles.
Hi All,
I've read all the posts before this and I would ask if it would be better to see only what I'm legally required to in regards to what is going on around the vehile or more than I really need, I have 2 cameras and 4 mirrors on my slide on camper and truck and still miss some of what is going on around me, I know what I'd prefer, MORE!!!!!
Bucko-Kev.