Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay today announced bull bars on light vehicles, within a reasonable tolerance of the requirements, will be given a two-year period of exemption from the vehicle registration regulations applying to bull bars in NSW.

Minister Gay will issue a Ministerial Order to address the issue of non-compliant bull bars currently subject to a compliance campaign.

“This has been a real issue in the bush and there is no simple solution,” Minister Gay said.

“But we are working to make sure vehicles on our roads are safe.

“This exemption will provide vehicle owners who have inadvertently fitted a non-complying bull bar to their vehicle or are unsure about their bull bar compliance, with time to have their bull bar inspected by Roads and Maritime Services.

“Owners will be allowed to drive with their bull bar fitted during the exemption period.

“This exemption is about ensuring vehicle owners, who thought that they were doing the right thing, aren’t disadvantaged.

“However, bull bars that grossly exceed the current Australian Standards that are called up by NSW Regulations will not be exempt.

“This decision flows on from the NSW Vehicle Standards Working Group meeting last week.

“Clear guidelines will be provided to relevant agencies about what bull bars are compliant, what bull bars will be exempt and what are clearly illegal.

“Any owners who are unsure or who have already received a defect notice for a bull bar they believe should be exempt, should then have their vehicle inspected at an RMS Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station.

“The relevant agencies have been made aware of the Ministerial Order and will work to address outstanding infringement notices.”