Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation

A heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels built, or used, mainly for transporting goods or passengers by road must be fitted with—

a braking system that—

consists of brakes fitted to all wheels of the vehicle; and

has at least 2 separate methods of activation, arranged so effective braking remains on at least 2 wheels if a method fails; or

2 independent brakes, each of which, when in operation, acts directly on at least half the number of wheels of the vehicle.

The braking system of a heavy motor vehicle mentioned in subsection (1) that was built after 1945 must have a service brake operating on all wheels that, when applied—

acts directly on the wheels and not through the vehicle’s transmission; or

acts on a shaft between a differential of the vehicle and a wheel.

The braking system of a heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels must have a parking brake that—

is held in the applied position by direct mechanical action without the intervention of an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic device; and

is fitted with a locking device that can hold the brake in the applied position; and

has its own separate control.

The parking brake mentioned in subsection (3) may also be the heavy motor vehicle’s emergency brake.

If 2 or more independent brakes are fitted to a heavy motor vehicle with 4 or more wheels, the brakes must be arranged so brakes are applied to all the wheels on at least 1 axle of the vehicle when any brake is operated.

In this section—independent brake, in relation to a heavy vehicle, means—

a brake that is operated entirely separately from any other brake on the vehicle; or

2 or more brakes operated simultaneously by a drum, disc or part on which a shoe, band or friction pad makes contact, that is common to the brakes.