WITH anger growing in the region about the current NSW Police Blitz on bull bars, Roads Minister Duncan Gay has intervened to help resolve the issue.
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On Thursday afternoon he directed the NSW Vehicle Standards Working Group to conduct a detailed examination of the laws surrounding bull bars, and instructed the working group to determine a transition period for people who have inadvertently purchased a non-complying bull bar since 2003. The transition period is likely to be several years in duration.
The NSW Farmers association has commended the State Government for quick action on defect notices on five post bull bars and will work closely with the Vehicle Standard Working Group and manufacturers to address concerns surrounding the bull bar regulations.
“We look forward to getting involved in this examination of five post bull bullbars in relation to Australian Standard and the Australian Design Regulations (ADR),” President Fiona Simson said.
The move by the minister means affected vehicle owners will be given some breathing space, and enough time to make any required adjustments to their bull bars to comply with the reviewed rules set by the working group.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall said the recent blitz by NSW Police to enforce the Australian Standards and the 2003 regulations has caused enormous angst and frustration for many people who have bought new vehicles or had bull bars fitted to vehicles in absolute good faith.
He said that in considering changes to existing bull bar rules, the Working Group had also been instructed by the Minister to carry out a series of crash tests to investigate the risks of non-complying bull bars.
“This may show that bull bars currently deemed to be non-compliant are actually quite safe and able to be fitted to vehicles in NSW,” he said.
Mr Marshall said NSW Fair Trading would work closely with Mr Gay to ensure consumers and businesses were aware of their respective rights and obligations under the Australian Consumer Law in relation to the purchase, manufacture, distribution and supply of bull bars.