ACT Pedal Power has called for the end to bullbars on cars on ACT roads. Pedal Power, the cycling lobby group, argues that bullbars are illegal under the Australian design rule that states, “”No vehicle shall be equipped with any object or fitting, not technically essential, with protrudes from any part of the vehicle that it is likely to increase the risk of bodily injury to any person.” The ACT Government’s view is different. Urban Services Minister Bill Wood says that his advice is that the design rules do not make bullbars illegal and that if the rules were to be changed to preclude bullbars, it would have to come from the Commonwealth.”
The two positions raise some major issues about traffic regulation in Australia. Technically, road rules are matters fro the states and territories, but a large amount of work has been done in the past 10 years towards increased uniformity and greater recognition of each other’s demerit points and licence suspensions. That work should not be undone lightly. With increased mobility, more people drive interstate so there is a public and safety interest in uniformity. Different rules invite confusion and more accidents. A difference in vehicle specifications invites inconvenience. If there were to be a ban on bullbars in the ACT, would interstate drivers have to remove them at the border.
At best, the ACT could ban bullbars on ACT-registered cars.
Pedal Power argues that research by the Federal Office of Road Safety shows that 14 per cent of pedestrian deaths could be put down to bullbars and that the danger to pedestrians and cyclists meant these “”fashion fads” should be banned.
Others would argue that given the large number of kangaroos on Canberra’s roads, there is a case of bullbars. That case, however, might be more about saving the cost of repairs, than evading injury. If the quoted research is right, the bullbar risk to pedestrians and cyclists is far greater than kangaroo risk to drivers, particularly as bullbars tend to be fitted to large four-wheel drives that would mash most kangaroos without endangering the driver. It might be more fruitful to have car design rules that would withstand minor knocks of all sorts without expensive repairs, so that bullbars became less attractive.
Bullbar rules should be reviewed and if the safety balance is against them they should be banned. In any event design rules for them should be improved. Human safety must come before concern over property damage.
In the meantime police should do more to enforce rules that help pedestrian and cycling safety, especially the rule that turning cars give way to ALL traffic including pedestrians and cyclists. And authorities should provide more pedestrian crossings and the rule about cyclists dismounting on them should be reviewed.