Being able to see out of your car is very important. But clearly it is more important to be able to look forward than to look backwards.
- Being able to see out the rear window or rear windshield is not a legal requirement
- Heavy vehicles or commercial vehicles are exempt
- It’s always safer to look outside!
As you may have seen in our other news, the rules around being able to see the front of your car are very strict and things like soft dice or even a navigation screen that attaches to the glass Windshields can block your view which could get you caught by the police. fines or even deduct points.
However, seeing out through the rear windshield of your car doesn’t seem to be a big deal.
Families will understand that sometimes you have to load things up high enough to fit in the trunk of your hatchback, wagon or SUV, and that can mean limiting your rearview mirror view. .
Likewise, ute and van drivers will understand that it’s a lot harder to look back when you’ve loaded your car with wood, paint tools, parcels, or plumbing. There are countless trucks on the road with hoods blank due to security or refrigeration requirements, while a lot of cars have toolbox-style hooded chassis that don’t allow any visibility. from the rear from the cabin.
Some vehicles – such as SUVs with three rows of seats – are increasingly offering rearview mirror technology in place of a camera system that transmits to a screen where the mirror is located. There is a switch that allows you to change between the real mirror reflection and the view from the rear camera of the car. This is done through the roof or a rear-mounted camera that runs a live feed. Vehicles like the Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Defender and Nissan Pathfinder offer this.
In addition, Regulation 35 of the Australian Vehicle Standards states: “One or more rear-view mirrors must be fitted to a motor vehicle as required by this rule so that the vehicle operator can clearly see by reflect the road behind the vehicle and any of the following. or overtaking.”
The regulation states that “cars, tricycles with two front wheels or motorcycles, tricycles with one front wheel must be equipped with at least one rear-view mirror, or motorcycles, tricycles with one front wheel. , manufactured before July 1975”. It’s the inner mirror.
For exterior mirrors, the regulation states that “at least one rearview mirror must be fitted to each side of motor vehicles with a GVM (total mass of the vehicle) of more than 3.5 tons and motorcycles, tricycles with a front wheel built after June 1975”.
If the vehicle’s GVM is “not more than 3.5 tons”, then the vehicle must have a rear-view mirror on the right side of the vehicle and one on the left or side of the vehicle.
Therefore, the driver must have rear view through the outside rearview mirror, so that if your view from your rearview mirror is obstructed, you can still see what is happening around the vehicle.
This is especially important when towing a caravan or trailer, as those towed vehicles can obscure 100% of the driver’s rear view through the car, while the rearview mirror – which can be an expandable part (such as a ClearView mirror) or a push/strap caravan tow mirror will be the best investment you can make to protect yourself and other road users. will be safe.
The National Code of Practice for the Construction and Modification of Light Vehicles (NCOP) does not specifically state any rules regarding the driver’s visibility from the driver’s seat. However, section 3.14 provides that modifications to production vehicles that do not require certification include: “Signs, drawings, writing, stripes, films (prism patterns) on non-reflective vehicle bodies. excessive light”.
So as long as you don’t stick the mirror on the back window, you should be fine.
Oddly, however, it doesn’t seem illegal to have a solidly finished or glossy rear windshield, having a heavily tinted rear window could get you in trouble.
According to the Australian Tinting Law, color darkness is measured in VLT, or Visible Light Transmittance. “VLT is equivalent to the percentage of light that passes through a car window, so 35% VLT blocks 65% of the total light through.”
And according to the law cited, all states and territories limit the VLT for a vehicle’s rear window to 20%, with the exception of the Northern Territory, where there is a 15% standard.
In addition to passenger cars, there are different classifications and standards that apply to what is needed for a rear window, according to the Australian Vehicle Design Rules.
There are many classifications for commercial vehicles, including: light duty vehicles (NA) – under 3.5 tons; medium cargo vehicle (NB) – 3.5 to 12 tons; heavy duty vehicles (NC) – over 12 tons; light bus (MD) – under 5.0 tons with 10 or more seating positions; and heavy vehicles (ME) – over 5.0 tons and with 10 or more seating positions.
Those vehicles are legally allowed to have “any degree of window darkness” for the rear windows of the driver. That basically explains why you can often see vans, buses or vans without transparent windows behind the driver.
Furthermore, the NSW Road Vehicle Registration Regulation 2017 section 6B provides that “light transmittance of 0 percent or more” is acceptable for the rear glass of a vehicle if: (a) the vehicle is equipped with at least 1 rearview mirror for each side of the vehicle; (b) vehicles primarily designed for the carriage of goods; (c) vehicles with at least 4 wheels, or at least 3 wheels and a GVM of more than 1 ton.
So what if you want to look behind and your view from your rear window is obscured? That’s where the rearview camera comes into play.
By now, you may have also found that some visual display units (VDUs) are illegal, as they can distract the driver. So drivers cannot watch Netflix while driving, however, there are some VDUs – such as CCTV or rear view cameras – if it is being used as a driver aid device. , provided it does not obscure the driver’s view. road.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
