Correct as at 9th May 2024. It may be superseded at any time.

Extract taken from: Vehicle Inspection Portal > VIRMs > In-service certification (WoF and CoF) > Heavy PSVs > Vehicle exterior

2 Vehicle exterior

2-1 External projections

Reasons for rejection

Condition and performance

1. The risk of a component (Note 5) hooking a vehicle, or hooking or grazing a person, has not been minimised, eg a bonnet or bumper has been removed, exposing sharp, moving or hot components.

2. An ornamental object or fitting (Note 2) protrudes in such a way that it is likely to injure a person.

3. A protruding object or fitting that has a functional purpose (Note 3) is not installed so that the risk of causing injury to a person is minimised, eg the object or fitting:

a) is of excessively heavy construction for the purpose for which it has been fitted, or

b) has sharp corners, or

c) slopes forward, unless this is necessary to fit the contours of the vehicle, or

d) has an unnecessarily wide gap between the object or fitting and the front of the vehicle, or

e) exceeds the vehicle’s width by more than 100mm on either side, other than side mounted glass sheet transport racks and collapsible side mirrors, or

f) is a glass sheet transport rack that is not fitted with a front flaring to minimise the risk of injury to a person.

4. A protruding component, object or fitting is not securely attached to the vehicle.

5. A protruding object or fitting adversely affects the driver’s vision or control.

Modifications

6. A modification (Note 4) affects an external projection – including a protruding object or fitting that has a functional purpose and affects the driver’s vision or control of the vehicle, and

a) is not excluded from the requirements for specialist certification (Table 2-1-1), and

b) is missing proof of specialist or accepted overseas certification, ie:

i. the vehicle is not fitted with a valid vehicle certification plate (eg low volume vehicle plate or heavy vehicle certification plate/label), or

ii. the operator is not able to produce a valid modification declaration or authority card

iii. the vehicle has not been certified to an accepted overseas system as described in Technical bulletin 13 .

Note 1

The external projections requirements relate to the design and maintenance of objects and fittings that protrude from the exterior of the motor vehicle with regard to the safety of other motor vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. The attachment of such objects and fittings to the vehicle is addressed in the Vehicle structure section of this manual.

Note 2

Ornamental object or fitting means an object or fitting that does not have a practical purpose, eg bonnet emblems.

Note 3

Functional object or fitting means an object or fitting that has a practical purpose, eg panniers, pack racks, spare wheel carriers, and so on.

Note 4

Modify means to change a vehicle from its original state by altering, substituting, adding or removing any structure, system, component or equipment, but does not include repair.

Repair means to restore a damaged or worn vehicle, its structure, systems, components or equipment to within safe tolerance of its condition when manufactured, including replacement with equivalent undamaged or new structures, systems, components or equipment.

Note 5

Components include damaged, corroded and exposed body panels.

Note 6

The following vehicles with a GVM of 2500kg or less must comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard:

  • Class MA motor vehicles manufactured on or after 1 March 1999
  • Class MA motor vehicles that were less than 20 years old when they were first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 April 2002
  • Class MB and MC motor vehicles manufactured on or after 1 October 2003.
Note 7

Rear bumper removal must still meet external projection requirements.

Table 2-1-1. Modifications that do not require specialist certification

Fitting of or modification to:

Specialist certification is not required provided that:

Body kits and components
(including utility canopies, plastic bumper skins and bonnet projections)

  • the fitting system does not weaken the vehicle structure (Note 8), and
  • no frontal impact components have been removed where the vehicle is required to comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard (Note 6)
  • the kit or components do not present any external projections that could cause injury, to the occupants or pedestrians, or present a snagging/hooking risk to a vehicle or person, and
  • the performance of any lamps is not affected as a result of the fitting of the kit or components, and
  • the driver’s vision has not been affected.

See also Table 3-1-1.

Side racks (for glass or other sheet materials)

  • there is no doubt as to the rack’s load carrying capacity, and
  • the rack is secured without weakening the vehicle structure (Note 8) and,
  • no forward-facing pedestrian traps exist (Note 9), and
    • the rack is designed and protected so that sharp or dangerous cargo cannot face directly forward projecting beyond the outside of the body.

See also Table 3-1-1.

Bumper bar (removal and change)  (Note 7)

  • the vehicle is not required to comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard (Note 6), and
  • does not weaken the vehicle structure (see Note 8), and
  • any changes to the bumper do not affect the performance of mudguards, or
  • a rear bumper bar has been replaced by a towbar crossmember.

See also Table 3-1-1.

Auxiliary bars (including bull bars, nudge bars, external roll cages and A-frames [or similar])

  • the vehicle is not required to comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard (Note 6)
  • the auxiliary bar:
    • presents no pedestrian traps (Note 9), and
    • is not angled forward except where necessary to clear the contours of the vehicle, and
    • presents no sharp edges or an external radius of less than 3mm
  • the winch either:
    • does not protrude forward of the front face of the bumper, or
    • does project forward of the bumper line but is fitted with ‘pedestrian-friendly’ shrouds to reduce trapping risk and present a larger forward-facing surface area
  • the vehicle is required to comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard and the auxiliary bar:
    • is a vehicle manufacturer supplied component for that vehicle, or
    • has been certified by the auxiliary bar manufacturer as frontal impact compliant (as may be indicated by a label).

Note that an auxiliary bar that does not meet the above minimum requirements is unlikely to meet LVV requirements and so cannot be certified.

See also Table 3-1-1.

A-frames
  • the A-frame meets all of the following requirements:
    • is attached to the chassis by means other than welding, and
    • the components are fit for purpose, and
    • the brackets remaining on the vehicle when the A-frame is removed are recessed behind the forward surface of the bumper by no less than 20mm, and
    • the brackets are fitted so that they do not bridge the vehicle’s crumple zones, and
    • the brackets are fitted so that they do not significantly stiffen the front of the vehicle.

See also Table 3-1-1.

Bonnet emblems or badges
  • the emblem or badge is designed and attached in such a way that it will fold back or break off in the event of contact, without leaving any sharp edges, or
  • the emblem or badge has no sharp edges, and is fitted flat to the bonnet with a thickness no more than 10mm.
Bonnet pins
  • the vehicle is not required to comply with a frontal impact occupant protection standard (Note 6); and
    • the pins:
      • have no sharp edges/are rounded with radius more than 3mm, and
      • do not present any external projections that could cause injury, to the occupants or pedestrians, and
      • do not present a snagging risk
Ute trays

For vehicles first registered in New Zealand before 1 January 2021:

  • in-service requirements

For vehicles first registered in New Zealand on or after 1 January 2021:

  • the tray has no sharp edges and radiuses of not less than 3mm on every external edge, and
  • no forward-facing pedestrian traps exist (Note 2), and
  • the tray protrudes no more than 100mm from the widest part of the vehicle cab/body structure (excluding mirrors), or
  • the forwards edges of the tray are tapered rearwards at an angle of no less than 30 degrees from the tray’s front edge or have an equivalent, or better, form of pedestrian protection.

See also Table 3-1-1.

Fitting of or modification to:

Specialist certification is never required:

Aerials

  • in-service requirements for conditions and performance must be met.

Roof-mounted solar panels

Trunk racks

Roof-mounted wheelchair winch

Roof racks (except heavy PSVs)

Additional or substituted rear-view mirrors

Any modification for the purposes of law enforcement or the provision of emergency services

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation
Permitted equipment

1. A motor vehicle may be fitted with a protruding ornamental or functional object or fitting.

Condition and performance

2. A protruding ornamental object or fitting must not be likely to injure a person.

3. A protruding object or fitting that has a functional purpose must be installed so that the risk of the object or fitting causing injury to a person is minimised.

4. Components of a motor vehicle, including damaged or corroded body panels, must be such that the risk of their hooking a vehicle, or hooking or grazing a person, is minimised.

5. A protruding object or fitting must not adversely affect driver vision or driver control.

Modifications

6. A modification that affects an external projection must be inspected and certified by a specialist certifier, unless the vehicle:

a) is excluded from the requirement for specialist certification (Table 2-1-1), and

b) has been inspected in accordance with the requirements in this manual, including those for equipment, condition and performance.

Page amended 29 April 2020 (see amendment details).

2-2 Dimensions

Reasons for rejection

Mandatory requirement

1. A rigid vehicle (Note 1) with a GVM of 3501kg or more exceeds the dimension requirements set out in Table 2-2-3 and is not a vehicle operating on a valid permit, exemption or approval.

2. A bicycle rack on a public transport vehicle of class MD3, MD4 or ME is:

a) not centrally mounted from the longitudinal centre of the vehicle, or

b) more than 1200mm from the forwardmost point of the vehicle, or

c) wider than 2100mm (see Figure 2-2-2).

Note 1

Rigid vehicle means a vehicle that does not have any pivot points to allow any part of the chassis of the vehicle to move or rotate in relation to any other part of the chassis of the vehicle, and includes an articulated bus and a pivot steer vehicle.

Note 2

Road controlling authority means the authority, body or person having control of the road (eg Waka Kotahi, regional council or an authorized delegate).

Note 3

A bicycle rack fitted to the front of a vehicle of class MD3, MD4 or ME is not included in determining the overall length or forward distance of the vehicle provided the vehicle complies with the applicable low speed turning performance measures in section 3.5(2) of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016, or is exempted under Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016 (Bicycle Racks on Urban Buses) Class Exemption Notice 2022

Table 2-2-3. Dimension requirements for heavy rigid vehicles

Dimension

Maximum distance

Comments

Width

2.55m  , or

1.275m  from each side of the longitudinal centreline of the vehicle

Measurement does not include:

  • collapsible mirrors which extend no more than 240mm from the  side and 1.49m when measured from the vehicle’s longitudinal centre line
  • direction indicator and side-marker lamps
  • cab exterior grab rails that extend no more than  1.325m when measured from a vehicle’s longitudinal centre-line
  • the bulge towards the bottom of a tyre
  • central tyre inflation system hoses that extend not more than 75mm beyond the outside of the tyre on the drive axles
  • a hubodometer that extends not more than 50mm beyond one side of a vehicle from a non-lifting, non-steering axle whose outer casings are of a light colour, provided the hubodometer is fitted on the axle that causes the least overwidth
  • trolley bus poles and their safety cables
  • cameras or close-proximity monitoring systems mounted on the side exterior of a vehicle that extends not more than 70mm from the side wall of the vehicle
  • devices for improving the aerodynamic performance of a vehicle that extend not more than 25mm from either side of a vehicle.

Overall length

11.5m (tow coupling fitted)

12.6m (no tow coupling fitted)

13.5m (rigid bus with three axles where the rearmost axle is a single-tyred steering axle that is:

a) either positively and continuously linked to the front steer (except may be locked for reverse and high-speed operation); or

b) automatically locked at a speed of 30 km/h in the straight-ahead position and for reverse operations)

18m (articulated bus)

Measurement does not include:

  • collapsible mirrors
  • up to 50mm of any ferry securing point that extends beyond the body of the trailer.

Height

4.3m

 

Forward distance

8.5m (tow coupling fitted)

9.5m (no tow coupling fitted)

8.5m (for both front and rear sections of an articulated bus)

Forward distance is measured from:

  • the rear axis to the front of a rigid vehicle or front section of an articulated bus
  • the rear axis of the rear section of an articulated bus to the centre of the point of attachment to the front section of the articulated bus.

Measurement does not include collapsible mirrors.

A vehicle with a retractable axle must meet the dimension requirements whether the axle is in contact with the road or in the retracted position.

Rear overhang

The lesser of 4m or 70% of wheelbase where rearmost axle is a non-steering axle

The lesser of 4.25m or 70% of wheelbase where rearmost axle is a steering axle

The lesser of 4.5m or 72% of wheelbase of a rigid bus with overall length exceeding 12.6m

The lesser of 4m or 50% of forward distance (articulated bus)

4m (for a vehicle first registered anywhere before 1 December 1989)

Rear overhang is measured from the rear axis to the rear of the vehicle.

A vehicle with a retractable axle must meet the dimension requirements whether the axle is in contact with the road or in the retracted position.

Ground clearance

The greater of 100mm or 6% of the distance from the nearest axle to the point where the ground clearance is measured

Measurement does not include flexible mudflaps, wheels, tyres or devices designed to discharge static electricity.

Front overhang

3m

Front overhang is measured from the front edge of the driver’s seat in the rearmost position to the front of the vehicle.

Articulated vehicle point of attachment

No further rearward than centre of rear axle (where rear axle set consists of only one axle)

No further than 300mm rearward of rear axis (where rear axle set consists of more than one axle)

Does not apply to articulated buses.

Tow coupling position (articulated bus only)

45% of wheelbase of the leading unit

The tow coupling position is the distance rearward from the vehicle’s rear axis to the centre of the tow coupling.

Turning circle

25m outside diameter

10.6m inside diameter (articulated bus only)

The vehicle must complete a 360-degree turn in either direction.

No part of the vehicle (other than collapsible mirrors) must extend beyond the outside diameter or into the inside diameter.

Figure 2-2-1. Dimensions for articulated bus

(Note: Dimensions in red updated in VDAM 2016)

Articulated bus

Figure 2-2-2. Bicycle rack bus dimensions

Bike rack envelope

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation
Mandatory requirement

1. A rigid vehicle, or an articulated bus, with a GVM of 3501kg or more that exceeds the dimensions in Table 2-2-3 must be operating on a valid permit, exemption or approval.

Page amended 7 October 2022 (see amendment details).