AS 3954:2019 PDF

AS 3954:2019 PDF

This Standard specifies design, construction and installation requirements, and relevant tests, for driving controls that allow vehicles to be driven by drivers with physical disabilities. All vehicles, as referred to in Australian Design Rules (ADRs) fall within the scope of this Standard.

This Standard was prepared by the Standards Australia Committee ME-067, Assistive Technology Products for Persons with Disability, to supersede AS 3954.1—1991 Motor vehicle controls—Adaptive systems for people with disabilities, Part 1: General requirements and AS 3954.2—1991 Motor vehicle controls — Adaptive systems for people with disabilities, Part 2: Hand controls — Product requirements.

This Standard was originally prepared following a request by the New South Wales Association of Occupational Therapists for an Australian Standard for the design, installation and maintenance of adaptive control systems for motor vehicles. This Association expressed concern that there was currently no regulation of such adaptations in motor vehicles and no document giving guidelines on minimum requirements for the safety and quality of adaptive motor vehicle controls.

Minimum requirements that are based on performance criteria have been specified, with design requirements limited to aspects concerning safety, and conformance to the requirements set down in Australian Design Rules for motor vehicles and trailers.

Recognition has been given to possible disadvantages to setting down design requirements with which some special adaptations, related to a driver’s particular disability, could not conform. The Standard has identified areas where these conditions may apply. Relevant clauses in the Standard give the inspecting authority jurisdiction where the driving control for a person with a particular disability is the only means by which that person can operate the motor vehicle.

This Standard consolidates and replaces AS 3954.1 and AS 3954.2.