Lucky timing

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 12:42 AM

Well ever since the WA constabulary made me take the bull bar off my ute six months ago under the new laws my ute has been unhappy! She's just not herself. I finally got sick of seeing other bullbars getting round town so put my bar back on last thursday. On Sunday I hit 2 emus at 110km/h. Repair quote is $1950. Without the bar ute would have been written off for sure. I really have to question these new laws in a state with more open road and wandering beasties than you can poke a stick at!

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 12:47 AM

Pics. Hard to believe those glorified feather dusters can do this!

Rock ape · 18-09-2007, 12:52 AM

What are they banning bars now?

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 12:58 AM

New bullbar laws are very strict. Bars must:

not have any forward facing angles
not be further than 100mm from headlights
not have a post at the corners
Not be wider at any point than the car (panels not mirrors)
must follow contour and shape of vehicle

Basically must push hit objects up and not down. Will no doubt save a pedestrian or two but at the cost of how many motorists? Camel through the windscreen anyone?

Rock ape · 18-09-2007, 12:59 AM

What a load of crap. What about roadtrains?

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 01:07 AM

Not sure if trucks fall under the same rules. I'm a part time road train driver and I've never been pulled up. lol

And before anyone abuses me I'm not condoning people living in major cities having massive bars which never get out of town. But someone like myself who does lots of remote highway k's think there should be some leeway, a permit of some type perhaps.

3vXT · 18-09-2007, 07:32 AM

I'm certainly not against bullbars and i realise that they are important in most parts of the country but why couldn't you get a different bar that complies with the laws?

Outbackjack · 18-09-2007, 09:46 AM

Is this BS a WA thing only?? Here are more laws brought in because the Harold Scruby's of the world have the ear of government. How many pedestrians were being mowed down by cars with roo bars?? These things are a neccesary fact of life out in the bush...... Why are governments so "anti bush people"??

NeishaXR8_347 · 18-09-2007, 10:26 AM

So all they basically want is a normal car bullbar to be fitted, not a mack truck bar with flaps and things that trucks have. I understand they are what you guys call rigs but they are only an XD ute under all the driving lights, kenworth mudflaps, CB aerials and little orange lights. Close call though maybe you should send them some pics of what your bullbar saved but then they mught fine you for fitting it.

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken2903

I'm certainly not against bullbars and i realise that they are important in most parts of the country but why couldn't you get a different bar that complies with the laws?

A good question and there are several reasons why. First my daily driver is an XD ute and you just can't get a compliant bar for a 28 year old vehicle. Second they are not that effective, a good roo will write off a modern bar and push it back taking out the grille, lights, bonnet, guards etc. Trust me, it's happened to me before. Third due to their shape they become a wedge in a collision and spear whatever you hit upwards onto the bonnet/windscreen. That's the way they are designed, meant to be pedestrian friendly and just lay the person over the bonnet if you hit them rather than push them out of the way of the vehicle.

Outbackjack, at the moment this is only WA I believe but have been told by some police friends that it will be rolled out Aus wide in the near future. I agree with your comments, the world stops at the city limits for most pollies. They just don't realise that no bush means no agriculture, no mining, no oil etc. Australia stops.

stupa · 18-09-2007, 05:35 PM

Mate, this is slightly of center but do you know if the 'tuff bullbars' junier burger bar is legal over here?

cowboy · 18-09-2007, 06:00 PM

Sorry mate, couldn't tell you.

stupa · 18-09-2007, 06:15 PM

Any idea where I'd be able to find out?

NC1183 · 18-09-2007, 06:22 PM

Its already in NSW, has been for a while, as far as i'm aware. The police here in Moree are pretty foregiving with the rule though.

**Jastel** · 18-09-2007, 07:03 PM

Similar rules in Queensland, no sharp edges or corner posts etc
Also must be airbag compliant if car has airbags
Think how ugly the AU factory bullbar was
Seeing a few of the rounded fibreglass type ones around here at the moment
Anyone know how good/bad they are if you hit something??

Ringo · 19-09-2007, 08:26 AM

Similar rules exist in Vic as well but once again I don't believe it is to heavily enforced....fine must not be worth the effort

Tote · 19-09-2007, 09:53 AM

I'd be surprised if that bar caused any issues in NSW, they do get upset about antenna mounts that are in front of the bar and fishing rod holders at rego inspections though.
Aren't emus buggers of things, I had one run into the side of my Maverick at 80 Km/h, it's head put a dent in the passengers side front door, its bum took out the back door then it went under the wheel, ripped off the flare and bent the rear quarter, a couple of grand worth of damage.
NSW Rules below:
Protrusions on vehicles

Some vehicles are fitted with badly designed bull bars with pointed corners and sharp edges, and some are fitted with accessories which protrude beyond the bumper bar or bull bar.

Protrusions and some methods of attachment to the front of vehicles present a danger to other road users and increase the likelihood of injury or damage to a person or another vehicle making contact with the vehicle. An accessory or bull bar fitted to a vehicle must therefore be attached in a manner that does not affect the continuing compliance of the vehicle with the Australian Design Rules and Regulations.

This information covers only the roadworthiness requirements for equipment fitted to the front of vehicles. These roadworthiness requirements and the relevant construction safety standards will be reviewed after Standards Australia completes a proposed Australian Standard on bull bars.
Fitting of accessories

Of particular concern are the ways in which items protruding forward of the bumper or bull bar are fitted eg. accessory fittings attached to the exterior of a vehicle such as brackets supporting aerials and lights.

Also of concern are bull bars that have sharp edges and pointed corners or bull bars fitted with accessory attachments such as fishing rod holders, lights and mounting brackets for such fittings, and any fittings that affect the field of view of the driver.

For safety reasons it is illegal to have:

1. Any attachment or protrusion projecting forward of bull bar or bumper bar which presents a danger to other road users.
2. Note that any aerials or winches which cannot meet this requirement should be removed after the operational need is completed. Emergency and rescue (State Rescue Board-accredited rescue vehicles, mines rescue) vehicles may have a constant operational need for this equipment and will not be rejected. Minor protrusions forward of the bull bar or bumper bar such as a spotlight, or fairleads required for the operation of a winch, where the mounting brackets do not protrude, are permitted providing the protrusion is the minimum necessary and is blunt or protected to minimise any risk of injury to vulnerable road users.
3. Any sharp or ragged edge or corner on a bull bar which could cause injury to a person coming into contact with the bull bar.
4. Any bull bar or other attachment that does not allow the driver a view of the road and of the traffic to the front and side of the vehicle so that the driver can drive the vehicle safely.

link here : http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...oads/vib05.pdf

Regards,
Tote

Bill_R · 19-09-2007, 01:11 PM

made a nasty mess for sure. Very lucky you had the bar back on.
I'm thinking Bull Bars should maybe come with air bags.

1970galaxie · 19-09-2007, 10:07 PM

All this talk about the bullbars.
What about the poor emus?
Did you cook 'em up? LOL!

Chippar · 19-09-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy

New bullbar laws are very strict. Bars must:

not have any forward facing angles
not be further than 100mm from headlights
not have a post at the corners
Not be wider at any point than the car (panels not mirrors)
must follow contour and shape of vehicle

Basically must push hit objects up and not down. Will no doubt save a pedestrian or two but at the cost of how many motorists? Camel through the windscreen anyone?

If this pic uploads, this is what happens with the moulded bull bars.

Well it didn't work, but the big red has been jammed lengthways across the bullbar, with most of the body jammed between the top and middle of the bar back into the radiator and bonnet. Big damage.

I hit a roo back in the 70's near Mt Isa, with my old XB that sported a miniture "Mack Bull Bar", which leaned forward at the top, and the roo was just pushed down and got rolled under the car. No damage except for a cracked spotlight glass.