Rule 127 of the Australian Road Rules applies Australia wide as far as I know,
and is a part of each State's Road Traffic Act or eqivalent.
These Rules & Acts relate to "how" you drive. The rule as to how you drive a
long vehicle (or combination) in regard to distance between long vehicles kicks
in when any two vehicles over 7.5 metres (not 19 metres) are involved.
Each State also has a Motor Vehicles Act or equivalent which relates partially
to the nuts and bolts issues related to vehicles.
Tasmania's Act seems to have taken a slightly different path to the mainland
States in regard to what you can tow in the way of rowing boats, surfboats &
gliders.
Chris McDonnell
There was some discussion on these pages around Easter about lengths of glider
trailers, passing, trucks etc - and the Tasmanian legislation was put up.
In SA (almost) the same provisions apply as in Tasmania, but only on Road Train
Routes, where if the a combination (prime mover & trailers) is longer than 19
metres, the (long) vehicle must not get closer than 200 metres - unless passing
another vehicle - thats when it can get exciting.
Glider trailers fall into this category if the combination is in excess of 19
metres long and is dragged along a Road Train Route.
It is probably appropriate to also maintain this distance between the vehicle
ahead on other routes also - to allow others to pass (you know what a pain it
is to sit behind a caravan, glider trailer, etc when you cant pass because the
towing vehicle is too close to the vehicle infront of it.
Perhaps the gliding movement could lead the charge to introduce courtesy in
towing long vehicles.
John Hudson
127 Keeping a minimum distance between long vehicles
(1) The driver of a long vehicle must drive at least the required minimum
distance behind another long vehicle travelling in front of the driver, unless
the driver is:
(a) driving on a multi-lane road or any length of road in a built-up area,
or
(b) overtaking.
Penalty: Offence provision.
Note: "Built-up area", "length" of road, "multi-lane road" and "overtake"
are defined in the dictionary.
(2) In this rule:
"long vehicle" means a vehicle that, together with any load or projection, is
7.5 metres long, or longer.
Note: "Vehicle" includes a combination-see rule 15 (d).
"required minimum distance" means:
(a) for a long vehicle in a road train area-200 metres or, if another law
of this jurisdiction provides another distance for the area, that distance, or
(b) for a long vehicle in another area-60 metres or, if another law of this
jurisdiction provides another distance for the area, that distance.
"road train" means a combination that is a road train for the Australian Road
Rules under another law of this jurisdiction.
Note: "Combination" is defined in the dictionary.
"road train area" means an area where, under another law of this
jurisdiction, road trains may be driven.
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