NHVR sees PBS safety aspect being strengthened through DSUB amendment
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has opened Performance Based Standards (PBS) consultation on the implementation of amendments to the PBS Directional Stability Under Braking (DSUB) Standard.
NHVR chief engineer Les Bruzsa expects the amendments to increase the requirement for newly built or newly approved PBS vehicle units to be fitted with the latest safety technologies and to remove the option for Load Proportioning Brake Systems (LPBSs) from the ‘deemed to comply’ provision.
“With new technologies now readily available, the changes will ensure that the original intent and principles of the scheme are met and that PBS vehicles continue to be the safer heavy vehicle alternative,” Bruzsa says.
“In order to provide sufficient time to allow for business changes as a result of the DSUB Standard amendments, the NHVR is proposing to use a staged approach to the implementation.”
Read what Bruzsa had to say about PBS approval simplification, here
The purpose of the DSUB Standard is to manage the safety risk of vehicle instability when braking in a turn or on pavement cross slopes.
The reforms were recommended as part of a review conducted by Dr John de Pont from TERNZ Transport Research into three PBS Standards, including the DSUB performance requirements.
For additional information or to provide feedback, the PBS Directional Stability Under Braking Transitional Arrangements Discussion Paper can be found here.
Feedback on the paper is open until February 12.