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The issue, raised by Donna Martin from
Tumut Plant Hire centred around whether
the police are able to stop people who are
towing trailers and other items to check
their D shackles (and chains). Of major
concern was whether the police would
then be able to issue fines for incorrect
equipment or incorrectly rated equipment
for the trailer being towed.
After personal unsatisfactory research
and input from the RMS (Roads &
Maritime Services) in NSW and local
police stations, Donna asked Hire and
Rental News. We love a good story so
here is what we have tracked down.
Our input includes an official statement
from the RMS and the NSW Police
Department as well as input from HRIA
members about their own experiences
Australia-wide, safety chains are required
as part of the towing mechanism on
a trailer. They connect the trailer’s
A-frame, or drawbar, to the main tow-bar
framework of the towing vehicle using D
or bow shackles.
As a safety device, the chains and
consequently the shackles, must be
strong enough to keep the trailer
connected to the towing vehicle and
prevent the drawbar from touching the
ground if the coupling should break or
become disconnected from the tow ball.
THE CENTRE FOR ROAD SAFETY
RESPONSE
According to John Morrison, Media &
Public Affairs, Customer Experience,
Transport for NSW, in the response from
the Centre for Road Safety: “If you tow a
trailer, you must use safety chains.
“Under the Australian Design Rules,
each safety chain must be capable of
keeping the trailer connected to the
towing vehicle and prevent the drawbar
from touching the ground if the coupling
breaks. D shackles are usually used to
attach the safety chains and these must
be strong enough to support the towing
load.
“While this is not required in NSW, it is
recommended people use D shackles
with stamped load limits to ensure they
are strong enough to support the trailer.
Towing and the requirement for rated D shackles
Questions have been raised by an HRIA member about rated D shackle requirements
for towing trailers. Apparently rumours have been circulating about police enforcing
specific requirements for D shackles, with reports police were issuing infringement
notices for non-load-rated D shackles used to tow trailers.
“Trailers do need to be maintained and
require skill and care from drivers. We
encourage all owners and drivers to take
special care when towing.”
For more information refer to Australian
Design Rules ADR 62/01 & 62/02 –
Mechanical Connection Between Vehicles.
NSW POLICE FORCE MEDIA UNIT
REPSONSE
(Spokesperson from
Traffic and Highway Patrol)
The NSWPF rely upon the vehicle
standards as set out under Schedule
2, Clause 166 of the Road Transport
(Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2007
which sets out what weight that may
be towed and the minimum size of the
chain or wire rope that is needed to do
this, this would also apply to the shackle
being used.
If the shackle or chain or
wire rope that does not meet this
minimum size diameter (as listed
in the table below) then you would
have an offence under Clause 52 (1)
not comply with standards. $106
penalty notice or $2,000 maximum.
Yes police check any equipment on a
vehicle including chains, shackles or wire
rope when towing, notwithstanding they
are required when towing to have safety
chains fitted as described below in the
table, anything that is required to meet
the standards is set out under the vehicle
registration legislation which references
the ADR's. Simply put, any shackle or
chain connected to a trailer of any type
must have the applicable diameter, ie: if
the gross weight of the trailer is
1.3 tonnes then all connecting devices
would need to be a minimum of 12.6mm
in diameter, if not then they can be fined.
Other information is available from the
ADR's 62/00 Mechanical Connection
Between Vehicles. The Roads & Maritime
Services has a Bulletin 41 setting out
vehicle A frame towing and most box
trailers are A framed. However this would
appear to refer to safety chains more so
that shackles. Other info that relates can
be found under AS 2741 and AS 4177.
Most of these items refer to the capacity
of chains, although shackles must be in
line with these requirements. That said
we are only able to use what is currently
within the standards.
166 – Drawbar couplings
1 A coupling for attaching a trailer,
except a semi-trailer or pole-type
trailer, to a towing vehicle must be
built and fitted so that:
a the coupling is equipped with a
positive locking mechanism, and
b the positive locking mechanism can be
released regardless of the angle of the
trailer to the towing vehicle.
2 A coupling fitted to a trailer first
registered on or after 1 August 1963
must have clearly and permanently
stamped, moulded or otherwise
branded on its main component:
a means of identifying its manufacturer,
b the maximum gross weight of the
trailer it is designed to tow.
3 If the trailer is in a combination and is
not fitted with break-away brakes in
accordance with clause 141 (3), it must
be connected to the towing vehicle
by at least 1 chain, cable or other
flexible device, as well as the coupling
required by subclause (1).
4 Any such safety connection must
be as short as practicable and be so
connected and affixed that:
a it is not liable to accidental
disconnection but is readily detachable
from the towing vehicle, and
b it permits all normal angular
movements of the coupling without
more slack than is necessary, and
c it will prevent the forward end of the
drawbar from striking the ground in
the event of accidental disconnection
of the coupling, and
d if it consists of more than one chain or
wire rope, the chains or wire ropes are
in a crossed-over position.
5 Any chain or wire rope in such a safety
connection must:
a if a chain, be of welded iron links, and
b if a wire rope, have a strength of at
least that of a chain of the same
diameter, and
c be of a size specified in the table.
HIRE AND RENTAL NEWS • NOVEMBER 2015
46
TRANSPORT, TRUCKS & TRAILERS