Reasons for rejection

Mandatory and permitted equipment

1. A vehicle that is not covered by an exemption has the steering column to the left of the longitudinal centre line of the body of the vehicle.

2. A vehicle does not comply with a requirement relating to mandatory equipment set out in:

Compliance with approved standards

3. A vehicle that is required to comply with an approved steering system standard in respect of its steering system did not comply, or cannot be demonstrated to have complied, at the time of manufacture, with

a) the steering system standard(s) listed in at least one of the four columns in Table 9-1-1, or

b) at least one of the frontal impact standard(s) listed in Table 3-2-1 of this manual.

4. A vehicle capable of exceeding a speed of 50km/h and equipped with a steering system (Note 1) with no direct mechanical connection between the driver’s means of control and the wheels, or other means of changing the vehicle’s direction, does not have at least one additional means of steering, unless the vehicle was entry certified as meeting either of the following standards:

• Council Directive of 8 June 1970 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the steering equipment for motor vehicles and their trailers (70/311/EEC), or
• UN/ECE Regulation No. 79, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to steering equipment (E/ECE324-E/ECE/TRANS/505/Rev.1/Add.78).

Condition, performance and modification

5. A steering or suspension system does not comply with a requirement relating to condition, performance or modification set out in:

Note 1

Refer to Pre-registration and VIN 5 – Left-hand drive vehicles for information on left-hand drive vehicles and reproductions of New Zealand Gazette notices 1851 (1998) and 1478 (1999.

Table 9-1-1. Approved steering system standards*

* A steering system that is required to comply with an approved steering system standard must comply with the standard(s) listed in at least one of the four columns.

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Steering Systems 2001
• Traffic Regulations 1976, Reg 70.
• New Zealand Gazette, 19 March 1998, Issue 42, page 978.
• New Zealand Gazette, 25 February 1999, Issue 23, page 575.

Mandatory and permitted equipment

1. Vehicles must have the steering column to the right of the longitudinal centre line of the body of the vehicle, except for exempted vehicles. Exempted vehicles are listed in the New Zealand Gazette notices appending the Pre-registration and VIN 5 – Left-hand drive vehicles section of this manual.

2. Vehicles must also comply with the requirements relating to mandatory equipment set out in:

Compliance with approved standards

3. The steering systems on the following vehicles must comply with one or more of the approved steering system standards in Table 9-1-1:

a) vehicles of class MA manufactured on or after 1 January 1992

b) vehicles of class MB manufactured on or after 1 March 1999

c) vehicles of class MC manufactured on or after 1 March 1998.

Condition, performance and modification

4. Steering and suspension systems must comply with the requirements relating to condition, performance and modification set out in: