Ground clearance
17 Ground clearance
In this regulation – ground clearance, of a vehicle, means the minimum distance to the ground from a point on the underside of the vehicle, except a point on a tyre, wheel, wheel hub, brake backing plate or flexible mudguard or mudflap of the vehicle.
A person must not use, or cause or permit the use of, a light motor vehicle or light combination unless it has a ground clearance of at least – 100 millimetres at any point within one metre of an axle; and one-thirtieth of the distance between the centres of adjacent axles at the midpoint between them; and at any other point, the distance that will allow the light motor vehicle or light combination to pass over a peak in the road with a gradient on either side of 1:15 if – the wheels of one axle of the vehicle or combination are on the slope on one side of the peak; and the wheels of the next axle are on the slope on the other side. In the case of – a first offence, a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units; or a subsequent offence, a fine not exceeding 40 penalty units.
Subregulation (2) does not apply to a light motor vehicle with fewer than 4 wheels or any light trailer towed by such a vehicle.
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