The following has been copied from the Caravaners
Forum, and should assist members with queries about what mirrors are required and using rear view cameras.
the standard Australian Road rules apply to all states although it does appear that Western Australia does have their own version of regulations. I quote sources below.
The standard national rule makes no reference to the use of MIRRORS, just the requirement to have a clear view. I apologise, it does not state you must have it without turning, but the driver cannot leave the driving position to achieve a "clear view" because then item 1 would be contravened.
***However*** Western Australia has a changed provision that DOES appear to MANDATE the use of Mirrors. This is the only state or territory that I can find having a variation in this area. I would suggest that a local ought to investigate whether it be taken that "a clear reflected view" is in fact satisfied by a view returned by a camera, or that the regulation might need to be challenged. I do like their addition in regard to fluffy dice, however...
National Rules:
Part 18 Miscellaneous Road Rules
section:
297 Driver to have proper control of a vehicle etc
(1) A driver must not drive a vehicle unless the driver has proper control of the vehicle.
Offence provision.
(2) A driver must not drive a motor vehicle unless the driver has a clear view of the road,
and traffic, ahead, behind and to each side of the driver.
Offence provision.
Note Motor vehicle is defined in the dictionary.
Western Australia Regulations at:
http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/regs.nsf/3c0405a7241b5fe648256810003b1b1d/b1a2d1f10d7111ba48256f1800262631?OpenDocument
263. Drivers to have uninterrupted and undistracted views, etc.
(1) A person shall not drive a vehicle, unless ¾
(a) he or she is in such a position behind the steering wheel that he or she has full control over the vehicle;
(b) he or she can obtain a full and uninterrupted view of the road and any traffic ahead and on each side of him or her; and
(c) he or she can obtain, in a rear-vision mirror or mirrors attached to the vehicle, a clear reflected view of every overtaking vehicle.
Points: 3 Modified penalty: 2 PU
(2) For the purposes of subregulation (1), a driver is not able to obtain a full and uninterrupted view of the road and any traffic ahead and on each side of him or her if the vehicle has ¾
(a) a mascot, toy or similar article attached to the windshield, or to the rear or other window of the vehicle; or
(b) a mascot, toy or similar article attached to the interior of the vehicle in such a position as to obstruct or be likely to obstruct the vision, or to distract or to be likely to distract the attention, of a person while driving the vehicle.
National Rules: Rear view cameras: refer to Section 299, Driver's aids item 4:
The WA provision numbered 264 contains the same criteria as this:
299 Television receivers and visual display units in motor vehicles
(1) A driver must not drive a motor vehicle that has a television receiver or visual
display unit in or on the vehicle operating while the vehicle is moving, or is
stationary but not parked, if any part of the image on the screen:
(a) is visible to the driver from the normal driving position; or
(b) is likely to distract another driver.
Offence provision.
Note Motor vehicle and park are defined in the dictionary, and vehicle is defined in rule 15.
(2) This rule does not apply to the driver if:
(a) the driver is driving a bus and the visual display unit is, or displays, a
destination sign or other bus sign; or
(b) the visual display unit is, or is part of, a driver’s aid; or
(c) the driver or vehicle is exempt from this rule under another law of this
jurisdiction.
Examples of driver’s aids
1 Closed-circuit television security cameras.
2 Dispatch systems.
3 Navigational or intelligent highway and vehicle system equipment.
4 Rearview screens.
5 Ticket-issuing machines.
6 Vehicle monitoring devices.
Note Bus is defined in the dictionary.
Australian Road Rules may be seen on the web at many state related sites, this was excerpted from:
http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/publications/road_rules/toc.asp
try also: This first link from the National transport Commission of Australia provides links to the current full version of the rules dated October 2003. (PDF downloads > 1Mb)
http://www.ntc.gov.au/filemedia/Publications/AustralianRoadRulesParts1121.pdfhttp://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/rulesregulations/downloads/roadraustr_dl1.htmlhttp://www.thelaw.tas.gov.au/tocview/index.w3p;cond=;doc_id=%2B131%2B1999%2BAT%40EN%2B20041101000000;histon=;prompt=;rec=;term=
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/vrne/vrnav.nsf/childdocs/-739177595C55F0B5CA256EC900144E12-A6B4E1075753645ACA256EC900144EB5-6545428C677EE683CA256DD3001BAC48?open