Five-post' bull bars dangerous and illegal

28/4/05
Some bull bars being attached to vehicles are illegal and present a danger to pedestrians and other road users, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure Francis Logan said today.
"The Department for Planning and Infrastructure, which regulates vehicle safety in Western Australia, has examined a number of 'five-post' bull bars that have rigid side posts, uprights that slope forward and are deep and extremely rigid," Mr Logan said.
"Their design goes far beyond what is considered reasonable to protect a light vehicle from animal strikes.
"These bull bars are unacceptable for cars and utes as they pose a very high risk to pedestrians and their aggressive shape also increases the risk of injury to occupants of other vehicles in the event of a head-on or side-on collision."
Mr Logan said the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 2002 require that objects fitted to a vehicle must be designed, built and fitted in a way that minimises the likelihood of injury to a person making contact with the vehicle.
He said most bull bars were legal and provided drivers with good protection.
But the type of 'five-post' bull bars and other 'aggressively' designed bull bars recently examined by the Department for Planning and Infrastructure do not meet these requirements.
"Modern cars are designed in such a way that in the unfortunate instance that a pedestrian is hit, the pedestrian comes up on to the bonnet - and modern roo bars and bull bars follow the contours of the vehicle shape to help ensure this and minimise injury," Mr Logan said.
"If a pedestrian were to be struck by a vehicle with a bull bar similar to those examined by the department, the bar itself could inflict major injuries and there is a strong possibility the pedestrian would not go up on to the bonnet, but would go under the car.
"An aggressive shape also increases the risk of severe injury to occupants of other vehicles in the event of a collision, irrespective of whether it is a side or head-on impact."
Mr Logan said that most of the 'five-post' bars examined by the department were purchased and installed in other States, or individually imported and installed in WA by vehicle owners.
"Indeed, most other States are now also clamping down on such bull bars being fitted on light vehicles," he said.
The chairman of the Pedestrian Council of Australia, Mr Harold Scruby, welcomed Mr Logan's strong line against the 'five-post' bull bars.
"These bull bars are illegal, lethal and unnecessary," Mr Scruby said.
"There are many alternative bull bars that provide the same protection but comply with all safety standards.
"This is more about Freudian inadequacies than safety. These bull bars have no place on our roads."
Minister's office: 9222 8950