MULTI-COMBINATION
THEORY COURSE
(MODULE 1)
The contents of this manual remain the property of the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, (DTEI). No part of it can therefore be used or reproduced without the prior written permission of the Coordinator, Standards and Training, DTEI.
Multi-Combination Course
1 by 3 Hour Session
STUDENT REGISTRATION
MASS DEFINITIONS
LICENCE CLASSIFICATIONS
GIVE WAY RULES
SPEED LIMITS
ROAD RULES
CRASHES – LEGAL OBLIGATION
DRUGS AND DRIVING
EYE SIGHT
OBSERVATION
REACTION AND BRAKING
VEHICLE DIMENSIONS
PERMIT VEHICLE CONFIGURATIONS
TRAILERS
AXLE WEIGHTS
PERMITS
WARNING SIGNS FOR COMBINATIONS OVER 22 METRES LONG
MULTI-COMBINATION VEHICLES AND REQUIREMENTS
ROUTES
HOURS OF DRIVING AND RECORDS KEEPING
REFERENCE MATERIAL
Ø ROAD FRIENDLY SUSPENSION
Ø HEAVY VEHICLE DRIVER FATIGUE LAWS
Page No.
Cover Page 1
Session Plan 2
Content 3-4
Mass Definitions 5
Licence Classifications 6-8
Give-Way Hierarchy 9-10
Speed Limits 11
Road Rules 12-14
Crashes – Legal Obligation 15
Drugs / Alcohol and Driving Offences 16-18
The Eyes 19-21
Observation 22
Night Driving 23
Rules of Braking / Skidding & Reaction / Braking 24-26
Heavy Vehicle Dimensions 27-31
Rear Marker Plates / Portable Reflectors 32-33
Permit Vehicle Configurations 34
Trailers 35
Axle weights 36
Permits / Government Gazette Notices 37-40
Warning signs for combinations over 22 metres long 40-41
B-DOUBLE VEHICLES
Conditions 42
Dimensions 42
Transport of Freight 42-43
Operating Requirements 44
B-DOUBLE VEHICLES (continued) Page No.
Inspection Labelling 44
Mudguards / Spray Suppression 45
Miscellaneous Items 45
ROAD TRAINS
Conditions 46
Dimensions 46
Draw Bar 46
Rear Overhang 46-47
Tow coupling Overhang 47
Comparative Length of Trailers 47
Maximum Gross Vehicle Mass 47
Tracking 48
Maximum Speed Limit / Speed Restrictions 48
Lighting 48
Travel on Approved Routes 48
Vehicle Maintenance Management Accreditation 49
Drivers Health 49
Transport of Indivisible Items 50
Routes 50
Route Restrictions 50
Times of Travel 51
Definitions 52-54
Driving Hours, Work Diary and Record keeping 55-59
Road Friendly Suspension (Reference Material) 60-65
Note Page 66
Note:
The information recorded in this document may change without notice.
MASS DEFINITIONS:
UNLADEN MASS (UL)
The weight of the vehicle without any cargo but does include your fuel, oil and tools etc. In the case of an articulated vehicle it means the prime mover only.
GROSS VEHICLE MASS (GVM)
The maximum loaded mass of the vehicle, as set by the motor vehicle manufacturer or the registration authority.
GROSS COMBINATION MASS (GCM)
The greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of a motor vehicle and of any vehicles that may lawfully be towed by it at one time, as specified by the motor vehicle manufacturer or the registration authority.
DRIVER’S LICENCE CLASSIFICATIONS
CLASS C
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) not exceeding 4500 kg (but not including buses designed to carry more than 12 seated persons, motor cycles and motor trikes). Examples of vehicles which may be driven: sedans, station wagons, panel vans, utilities, light delivery vans, small trucks, quad bikes, special purpose vehicles (e.g. farm machines, small tractors, forklifts, or other like machinery);
small articulated vehicles provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 4500 kg. For example, small truck towing a horse float, trailer or caravan.
MAY TOW Trailer, horse float, caravan or farm implement.
Minimum
Age 17 years, learner’s permit for at least 12 months (6 months if aged over 25).
Moped with engine capacity 50 ml or less
CLASS LR
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle covered by class C
any motor vehicle with a GVM exceeding 4500 kg but not exceeding 8000 kg (e.g. trucks, vans, tippers, special purpose vehicles, and buses designed to carry 13 or more seated persons );
medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg.
MAY TOW any farm implement. Any trailer provided the overall mass is within the gross combination mass (GCM) of the towing vehicle.
Driving
Experience Must have held a class C driver’s licence for at least one year.
DRIVER’S LICENCE CLASSIFICATIONS (continued)
CLASS MR
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle covered by class LR.
any motor vehicle with two axles and a GVM greater than 8000 kg (e.g. two axle trucks, tippers and buses);
three axle motor vehicles, but only where the GVM is 8000 kg or less;
any special purpose vehicle, with two or more axles and an unladen mass not exceeding 15000 kg;
medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg.
MAY TOW any farm implement. Any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle.
Driving
Experience Must have held a class C driver’s licence for at least one year.
CLASS HR
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle covered in class MR;
any motor vehicle with three or more axles (e.g. trucks and tippers);
any special purpose vehicle;
medium articulated vehicles, provided the GVM of the towing vehicle does not exceed 8000 kg;
any bus (including articulated buses).
MAY TOW any farm implement. Any trailer with a GVM not exceeding 9000 kg provided it is within the GCM of the towing vehicle.
Driving
Experience Must have held a class C driver’s licence for at least two years, or a class LR or MR driver’s licence for at least one year.
DRIVER’S LICENCE CLASSIFICATIONS (continued)
CLASS HC
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle covered by class HR;
a prime mover to which is attached a single semi-trailer (whether or not any unladen converter dolly is also attached);
a rigid motor vehicle to which is attached a single trailer with a GVM greater than 9000 kg (whether or not any unladen converter dolly is also attached).
Driving
Experience Must have held a class MR or HR driver’s licence for at least one year.
CLASS MC
MAY DRIVE any motor vehicle covered by class HC;
B doubles;
road trains
Driving
Experience Must have held a class HC or HR driver’s licence for at least one year.
DRIVER’S LICENCE (Motor Vehicles Act: Rule 98AAA)
A person must carry his or her driver’s licence at all times while driving a heavy vehicle on a road and must produce the licence forthwith if requested to do so by a police officer. A heavy vehicle means a motor vehicle that has a GVM greater than 4500 kg.
THE GIVE WAY HIERARCHY
When the driver of a vehicle approaches any intersection,
the rules for Giving Way should be considered in this order:
- Traffic Lights - obey traffic light rules and rule 4.
- Signs or Lines - ‘Give Way’ sign, ‘Stop’ sign, ‘Roundabout’ sign,
‘Give Way’ line, ‘Stop’ line.
3. ‘T’ intersection rule - there must be only one terminating road.
4. Vehicles turning to the right must give way to vehicles approaching from
the opposite direction.
5.. In all other cases - give way to the right (‘D’ rule).
Note:
If you are a turning vehicle at an intersection or “T” intersection (Both left and right) you must give way to pedestrians at or near the road you are about to enter.
GIVE WAY SITUATIONS
(OTHER THAN AT INTERSECTIONS)
1. Moving away from the kerb - to all other vehicles travelling along the same road.
2. Approaching a level crossing - to all rolling stock (trams or trains).
- At pedestrian crossings - to all pedestrians using the crossing, only while the lights are flashing or have been activated to allow pedestrians to cross.
4. Entering a road from private land - to all pedestrians and vehicles using the road.
5. Entering private land from a road - to all pedestrians and vehicles using the road.
6. When attempting a ‘U’ turn - to all other vehicles and pedestrians.
- When merging into traffic (Zip Merge) – where the road narrows, to any vehicle that is partly or wholly in front of your vehicle.
- Emergency vehicles - to allow a free passage by moving to the left or right or slowing down.
SPEED LIMITS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
School zones. The speed-limit for a driver for any length of road in a school zone is 25 km/h at anytime when children are in the zone.
Shared zones. The speed-limit for a driver for any length of road in a shared zone is the number of kilometres per hour indicated by the number on the shared zone sign on the road, or the road into the zone.
25 km/h Maximum speed in any direction when passing a school bus which has stopped to allow children to board or alight.
25 km/h Maximum speed-limit when passing emergency services vehicles which are stationary and displaying red and/or blue flashing lights (whether or not they are also displaying other lights)
50 km/h Speed limit within a built up area unless you pass a different sign posted speed limit on that road.
100 km/h State limit which includes "L" plate holders,"P" plate holders, omnibuses with a GVM over 5 tonnes, or heavy vehicles with a GVM over 12 tonnes.
Note:
1. Some roads in South Australia may be sign posted at a limit of 110 km/h which allows drivers of certain vehicles to travel up to 110 km/h.
2. If a vehicle is an oversize or over-mass vehicle, the vehicle may be restricted to a lower speed limit.
3. Where two speed limits apply at the same time, the lower limit must be obeyed.
ROAD RULES
A ROAD (RULE 12) IS:
An area that is open to or used by the public and is developed for, or has as one of its main uses, the driving or riding of motor vehicles.
A ROAD RELATED AREA (RULE 13) IS:
· An area that divides a road;
· A footpath or nature strip adjacent to a road;
· An area that is not a road and that is open to the public and designated for use by cyclists or animals;
· An area that is not a road and that is opened to or used by the public for driving, riding or parking vehicles.
A BUILT-UP AREA IS:
A built-up area, in relation to a length of road, means an area in which there are buildings on land next to the road, or there is street lighting, at intervals not over 100 metres for a distance of at least 500 metres or, if the road is shorter than 500 metres, for the whole road.
HEAVY VEHICLES TO BE EQUIPPED WITH PORTABLE WARNING TRIANGLES (RULE 226):
This rule applies to drivers of:
· Any motor vehicle (except a bus or tram) with a GVM over 12 tonnes; or
· Any motor vehicle (except a bus or tram) forming part of a combination if the total GVM of the combination is over 12 tonnes.
LONG VEHICLES TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT FROM THE NEXT LANE
(RULES 28 & 32):
When turning left or right, a driver may approach and enter an intersection from partly or wholly within the marked lane that is next to the respective left or right lane if:
· The driver’s vehicle, together with any load or projection, is 7.5 metres long, or longer; and
· The vehicle displays a “do not overtake turning vehicle sign”; and
· Any part of the vehicle is within 50 metres of the nearest point of the intersection; and
· It is not practicable for the driver to turn left or right from the appropriate lane; and
· The driver can safely occupy the next marked lane and can safely turn left or right at the intersection by occupying the next marked lane, or both lanes.
ROAD RULES (continued)
STOPPING ON A ROAD - HEAVY AND LONG VEHICLES (RULE 200):
1. The driver of a heavy vehicle or a long vehicle must not stop on a length of road that is not in a built-up area, except on the shoulder of the road.
2. The driver of a heavy vehicle, or a long vehicle, must not stop on a length of road in a built-up area for longer than 1 hour, unless the driver is permitted to stop on the length of road for longer than 1 hour by information on or with a traffic control device, or under another law of this jurisdiction.
In this rule; a heavy vehicle means a vehicle with a GVM of 4.5 tonnes or more.
BICYCLE LANES (RULE 153):
- A driver (except the rider of a bicycle) must not drive in a bicycle lane, except as stated below.
- If stopping or parking is permitted at a place in a bicycle lane under another law of this jurisdiction, a driver may drive up to 50 metres in the bicycle lane to stop or park at that place.
- A driver may drive for up to 50 metres in a bicycle lane:
· If he driver is driving a public bus, public minibus or taxi, and is dropping off or picking up, passengers; or
· To enter or leave a road; or
· To enter a part of a road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind (for example, moving to or from a service road, the shoulder of the road or an emergency stopping lane; or
· To overtake a vehicle that is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road, and is giving a right change of direction signal; or
· To enter a marked lane, or a line of traffic, from the side of the road.
BUS LANES (RULE 154):
A driver must not drive in a ‘Bus’ lane except to:
· Turn left at or before the next road on the left,
· Enter or leaving land adjacent to a road;
· Move from one line of traffic to another or go around an obstruction; or
· Pass another vehicle on the left that is waiting to turn right.
In each case, the driver is not permitted to travel for more than 100 metres in the ‘Bus’ lane unless the driver is driving a public bus.
GIVE WAY:
To give way means that if there is a reasonable possibility of a collision with or endangering the other person or driver, the driver shall slow down to such an extent or stop, if necessary, for such time to allow the vehicle or person to continue on course without risk of such a collision or danger.
ROAD RULES (continued)
NIGHT DRIVING (RULE 215):
When driving at night "lighting up" time is from sunset to sunrise, or during periods of poor visibility. Headlights should be used together with rear lights, number plate light and, if appropriate, clearance lights. It is an offence to drive a vehicle displaying parking lights only during sunset to sunrise.