Australia is on the brink of a transformative shift in truck safety standards with several new mandates set to take effect, aimed at significantly improving road safety for heavy goods vehicles.

Several pivotal Australian Design Rules (ADR) will soon come into effect and mandate Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB), Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) on heavy vehicles, marking a substantial leap forward in vehicle safety technology.

As of February 1, 2025, the Australian Design Rule 97/00 will mandate the installation of Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) in new heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM).

This crucial update seeks to minimise the severity of in-lane frontal collisions, particularly in monotonous highway driving conditions. AEB systems are designed to detect likely forward collisions, alert drivers, and automatically apply brakes if the driver does not respond.

In addition to AEBS, another pivotal update under Australian Design Rule 35/07 is also set to come into effect in February 2025. This update expands the requirement of Electronic Stability Program (ESP) to cover goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes GVM.

Previously, ADR 35/06 did not mandate ESP for certain goods vehicles, but this revision is essential to align with the safety standards set forth by ADR 97/00. An ESP system detects the risk of rollover and intervenes by automatically applying brakes to decelerate the vehicle and corrects deviations from the driver’s intended course.

Another safety feature that will be added is Lane Departure Warning (LDW) as a result of ADR 99/00. LDW is already actively mandated for vehicles with a width greater than 2.5m, and will be required for all vehicles starting in September 2027. LDW aims at warning a distracted or drowsy driver if the vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane.

With those mandates coming into effect in the coming months, newly built trucks will therefore come with those safety systems by default. For new models of heavy vehicles, some of these systems have already been mandatory for some time.

An exception for those rules is made for vehicles with four or more axles and vehicles ‘designed for off-road use’. It is important for drivers to be aware of the safety systems which are fitted to their vehicles, so they are better prepared for the alerts and brake interventions which can occur if the systems detect critical situations.

Leading the charge in these safety advancements is the Bendix Fusion system, as part of Knorr-Bremse’s offering.

This integrated system combines radar, camera technology, and the Bendix ESP full-stability system to provide comprehensive collision mitigation and enhanced braking capabilities.

From February 2025, Bendix Fusion will be standard in most newly built North American trucks, ensuring compliance with ADR 97/00, ADR 99/00, and ADR 35/07 while enhancing vehicle control and safety across diverse driving conditions.

Looking even further ahead, Blind Spot Information Systems (BSIS, ADR 105/00) will become effective November 2025 for new models and February 2027 for all goods vehicles with a GVM over eight tonnes and an overall width exceeding 2.5m.

To fulfill those requirements, the Bendix Fusion system can be extended by an integration of the Bendix BlindSpotter for side object detection.

With this, objects in blind spots can be detected, significantly reducing the risk of accidents involving vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians, thereby ensuring enhanced road safety.

For manufacturers and operators in the trucking industry, understanding these technological advancements and preparing for compliance with these mandates are crucial steps toward ensuring safer road experiences for everyone.

Educating drivers about the functionalities of these advanced systems will be essential in maximising their effectiveness and integrating them seamlessly into daily operations.