As the clock ticks down to a significant shift in road rules, drivers are bracing for a massive overhaul happening soon.

This change could axe several beloved car models from showrooms.

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The Australian Design Rule (ADR) has been the cornerstone of vehicle regulation in the country.

It sets the bar for vehicle safety, efficiency, and environmental impact.

These non-negotiable rules ensure that every car, truck, or motorcycle sold or driven in Australia meets stringent standards.

Starting 1 March, vehicles should be compliant to the ADR 98/100 rule. Image Credit: Pexels/Nimit N

An impending change called the ADR 98/100 should take effect starting 1 March to make way for better vehicle safety.

Part of ADR 98/100's mandate stated that all new vehicles, regardless of launch date and time, must be equipped with autonomous emergency braking (AEB).

AEB technology detects potential collisions and automatically applies brakes, potentially preventing crashes or reducing severity.

This move towards enhanced safety has been in the pipeline since 2021, which gave the automotive industry ample time to adapt.

James Williams, Head of Policy at the Royal Automotive Club of Victoria (RACV), spoke about the benefits of AEB.

Mr Williams cited data from the Monash University Accident Research Centre and Europe's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that demonstrated AEB's effectiveness in reducing collision severity.

The RACV firmly stood by the legislation, as it prioritised vehicle safety and the potential to reduce road trauma over dealership profits.

In light of the looming change, some vehicle models will make the ADR98/100's cut.

Hussein Dia, a specialist from Swinburne University, spoke about the implications of the new rule.

'Car dealers would need to invest in bringing their existing models up to the required standard for Australia,' Dia stated.

'If they can't update the vehicles, or they choose not to update them because it is costly, then these models would need to be retired altogether.'

Several vehicle companies in Australia have already prepared for the looming change.

For example, Suzuki retired its Ignis light SUV and introduced the Suzuki Fronx, a new vehicle complete with AEB.

This shift should align Australia with international safety standards similar to European countries.

The ADR 98/100 may seem beneficial to the public, but it could have several drawbacks.

The introduction of AEB across all vehicles could drive car prices up, as manufacturers need to recoup the costs of integrating this new technology.

Vehicles from various carmakers could also discontinue extensive models.

According to the Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA), models such as the Fiat 500 and Abarth models, select LDV G10 and V80 vans, and Mahindra Pik-Up variants will be phased out soon due to non-compliance.

Mainstream models are not immune to the phase-out either.

The Mitsubishi ASX, Eclipse Cross, Pajero Sport, and older Renault Kangoo and Trafic models will also be affected.

Other than the Ignis, Suzuki will also pull out the Baleno and S-Cross units from sale.

Luxury cars are not spared from the culling.

Models like the Aston Martin DB11 and DBS, Lamborghini Aventador and Huracan, and some Porsche 718 versions should be phased out from the Australian market as well.

As Australia moves forward with this legislation, it has made it clear that it is prioritising saving lives and creating safer roads for everyone.

It's essential to stay informed about how the ADR 98/100 might affect you and your vehicle.

Consult with your manufacturer if your vehicle is good to go or if it's on the chopping block/

Make sure that your vehicle meets the new standards and can offer you and your loved ones safety on the road.

Key Takeaways

• Starting 1 March, the Australian Government should be pushing out the changes requiring new vehicles to have autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
• The Australian Design Rule (ADR) 98/100 could affect several popular vehicle models, which will be retired from catalogues due to non-compliance.
• The new rule aimed to improve road safety by reducing the number of rear-end collisions and should align Australian vehicle standards with Europe.
• While this change could lead to the discontinuation of some vehicle models, it may also result in higher prices due to building costs.

What do you think about the changes ADR 98/100 could bring? Share your thoughts about this new road change in the comments section below.

 

[Veggiepatch]

For those who quote "three car lengths", etc., this is incorrect. According to the Australian Road Rules (2021):-
A driver must drive a sufficient distance behind a vehicle travelling in front of the driver so the driver can, if necessary, stop safely to avoid a collision with the vehicle.

The Australian Road Rules (2021) is just a model that the State's base their own road rules and regulations.

The above "rule" is so subjective that it can be considered useless.

 

[Canham]

if they made all new comers to this country to pass the driving test we had to , to get our licences we would have fewer accidents anyway we would not need to worry about all the stupid dangerous drivers on our roads to hold a licence is a privilege earned not given and we need to remember this and behave accordingly on our roads people who own an older car do so because they can afford one not all cars are new and driving older cars off the roads will not fix the problem tell the pollies it is time to stop lining their hip pockets and think about all who live here equally and no i am not a commie

 

[Hovis]

Nothing can replace good driving habits - having driven in many different countries the use for this technology would be reduced if Australians stop "tail-gating". They may then see and react to an event rather than crashh into it.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Nothing can replace good driving habits - having driven in many different countries the use for this technology would be reduced if Australians stop "tail-gating". They may then see and react to an event rather than crashh into it.

Of course, no drivers in any other of the 190 odd countries in the world practice "tailgating".

It is not exclusively an Australian trait.

 

[Baz1960]

First thing first, its the drivers obligation to ensure they can operate a vechicle safely. We already have a pandemic of drivers not being able to control their vehicles and obey the laws. Mandate these driver aids and where does it stop? Driverless car technology has shown many hiccups and faults with the senors supplied on vehicles causing injury and death. Also, ADR's being enforced are a joke. The plagues of electric scooters and bikes not complying ADR's is a prime example. These machines are being let through our borders without a second look.

 

[Max53]

Re: New Road Regulations. Anything that can bring on braking other than the driver will, in my opinion, kill people. It, the regs above, state that brakes will activate when a potential accident, not just an actual accident occurs. Imagine you're in a car and swerving to miss a kid on a push bike and the brakes are applied. This can easily cause a total loss of control & possibly a roll over. I'm over seventy with 50 years riding motorcycles. They state the new regs will also apply to motor bikes. Braking on a lean, swerving or even a slow turn with the front wheel turned will bring you down faster than sh*t travels through a goose. Wait until a few pedestrians get hit with a sliding Harley Davidson. They will have to remove this junk quick smart. But what do I know, I'm only an automotive mechanical & electrical engineer. From memory, this type of system was trialed on one model of Mercedes Benz in AU. The system was removed after they found that running out of fuel caused the brakes to activate, sending the car off sliding in any direction. I'd like to know exactly what senors set off the brakes in a "POTENTIAL" accident. Just like many 4WDs in the outback with ABS, it will quickly be disconnected for safety.

 

[PattiB]

I personally like the idea of safety features and as an older driver I wonder about the slowing down of our reflexes. Our car has automatic braking but only works when cruise control is activated & sometimes it’s a pest but if it helps save the life of a child or animal then I’m all for it. We are close to purchasing a new car so will now wait until March. It really is irrelevant how long you’ve been driving for, or how safe you consider yourself, I’ve been driving over 50 years & have never had an accident, but our reflexes do start to become a little slower. You only have to sit in a car park & observe older drivers to confirm this.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Wait until a few pedestrians get hit with a sliding Harley Davidson.

Any "accident" attributed to a Hardly-Driveable is usually the rider's fault.

The last motorcycle incident I witnessed was a Hardly-Driveable trying his best to decapitate himself by driving into a level crossing boom gate at the South Gippsland Highway in broad daylight at Dandenong, Victoria in 2019.

If it wasn't so serious, I would be laughing!

 

[Boomer54]

What is going to happen with motorcycles? Will this system apply the rear brake only. the front brake only, or both? It will be dangerous to apply the brakes on a bike without ABS fitted, which most bikes do not have. Will it apply the brakes when you are legally filtering at traffic lights? Sudden unexpected braking on a bike usually means "shit, this is going to hurt" as the bike starts to go to the laying down position.

 

[Gil]

The roadbook rule used to be 3 car lengths. Has it changed?

Way back in the 60's, 70's before all the new braking systems like ABS etc. came in, the general rule of thumb was 1 car length per 10kmh you were travelling. I.E. if you are travelling at 100kmh, allow 10 car lengths, if you are doing 60kmh, allow 6 car lengths. I guess that has diminished a bit with new technology in vehicles. I still try to drive by these examples, however all the "heroes" want to jump in between me and the car in front. This means I have to slow down a bit to get the same distance separation again. Frustrating, but better than tailgating.

 

[Macarj]

“AEB technology detects potential collisions and automatically applies brakes, potentially preventing crashes or reducing severity.”

Would this potentially increase the likelihood of rear end crashes?

No because emergency braking your brake lights come on so no different to slamming your brakes on my car has emergency braking as long as idiots are a good distance behind you it doesn't make any difference

 

[Macarj]

I just read all responses it is just an improvement on vehicles, if you own a car without this it doesn't mean you have to get rid of it

 

[Greg350]

“AEB technology detects potential collisions and automatically applies brakes, potentially preventing crashes or reducing severity.”

Would this potentially increase the likelihood of rear end crashes?

It helps to stop you hitting the car in front, obviously what happens behind you have little control over. If you don't have this feature what's the other option, you hit the car in front and the one behind is still likely to hit you

 

[Greg350]

Do they ever stop to look at the amount of people entering the country each week. All this is increasing the population which means more on the roads. The roads cannot handle the extra traffic without a lot of work upgrading it. More people on the road, more accidents. Not rocket science.

Yet the road toll is in a downtrend since 1970.
NSW and VIC have had good year last year.

 

[Greg350]

l agree and it was never like this before . We are getting like puppets and they are pulling the strings.

Huh??? Drive as you normally do and if that's safe you'll never see this in action, I've had mine for 8 years, 180,000kms and it's never activated.

 

[Greg350]

These rules just further downgrade the required skills in driving a vehicle, in ten years after this rule is introduced the road toll will still be growing due to lack of driving skills.

The road toll will still be growing???

You take too much notice of the media hype. The road toll peaked in 1970, since than it has been in a downward trend. NSW had the same death numbers in 2023 2024, with population increase that's an improved result.
VIC has had a reduction in deaths last year.

To date NSW is down again this year.

 

[Greg350]

Just like education, cashless society, dumbing everybody down makes them easier to control and track. This government is reinventing Communism.

Clearly you do not understand how this works, stop living in a paranoid delusion that the government is out to get you, total rubbish.

 

[Greg350]

My husband and I try to always drive with at least one car length between us and the car in front. But I’ll be damned if someone else thinks it is OK and safe to just squeeze in without giving enough indication. Just a flick or two of their indicator, sometimes as they are already squeezing in between.

I don’t think it is going to make a lot of difference with this new ‘technology’ if people continue to drive at breakneck speed on suburban roads and our highways, and forcing themselves between cars. A sudden application of automatic brakes could possibly throw an inattentive driver through the windscreen, although I don’t know how forcefully these new systems will actually work. Will it be sudden and immediate stopping or gradual?; if gradual then a collision will still happen if driving too close to the car in front.

More speed and phone cameras needed and people to stop challenging the camera when they are caught doing the wrong thing. Attention on our roads is most important as is speeding. No arguments!

One car length??????

OMG, please get further instruction from a certified driving instructor, one car length is pointless unless crawling along. 3 seconds is recommended, that's 90 metres at 110 kph or 18 car lengths.

18 car lengths at 110. The gap should be greater as the speed increases, and 18 car lengths will be safe if paying attention and brake straight away, if wet even further.

 

[Retnyapi]

You should be travelling at least 3 car lengths from the car in front; 1 car lengtth is too close to stop in an emergency. The length also increases as you increase speed. But, as a guide, 3 car lengths is approx 50 metres which is about 10 car lengths,

"3 car lengths is approx 50 metres which is about 10 car lengths" sorry this doesn;t make sense. I think you mean the last bit "50 metres is about 10 car lengths"

 

[Greg350]

The roadbook rule used to be 3 car lengths. Has it changed?

It says 3 seconds, you can't have 15 metres (3 car lengths), that may be okay for driving around slowly in the city, no where near enough when going 110 kph. You need 18 car lengths at the speed.