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MOTOR VEHICLE STANDARDS ACT
A national standard determined under section 7 of the Act
AUSTRALIAN DESIGN RULE 42/04
GENERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

...

18 TELEVISION AND VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS
18.1 General
All television receivers or visual display units and their
associated equipment must be securely mounted in a
position which:
18.1.1 does not obscure the driver's vision;
18.1.2 does not impede driver or passenger movement in
the vehicle; and
18.1.3 is unlikely to increase the risk of occupant injury.
18.2 Restriction on Visibility of Screen
Unless a driver's aid, all television receivers or visual
display units must be installed so that no part of the image
on the screen is visible to the driver from the normal
driving position.


ADR 42/03 showed the above section as 19 instead of section 18 as shown in
the updated version (ADR 42/04).  This is important because...

There is some clarification of allowed uses of a TV/VDU in vehicles at
http://rvcs-prodweb.dot.gov.au/circulars/42_03-3-1.html:

Question: Would a television or visual display unit incorporating at least
one driver's aid such as satellite navigation be prohibited under clause
19.2, if the image on the screen is visible to the driver from the normal
driving position and there is no special arrangement for ensuring that the
device cannot function in another mode, such that it is not acting as a
driver's aid, when the vehicle is in motion.


Answer: Clause 19.2 clearly does not prohibit drivers' aids. Therefore,
multi-function television or visual display units incorporating at least one
driver's aid are permitted by clause 19.2. 

However, the policy intent behind clause 19.2 is to avoid a situation where
the driver could be distracted by images from a visual display unit that are
not related to the driver's aid function of the device. It is an area where
manufacturers will have duty of care responsibilities.

Furthermore, it should be noted that although this issue is not covered by
an ECE Regulation, it is addressed in ECE Guidelines for Design and
Installation of Information and Communication Systems in Motor Vehicles -
Consolidated Resolution No 3. These guidelines state that:

"6.2....Information that is likely to greatly distract the driver visually
(for instance TV, video, commercials) must either be switched off completely
while the vehicle is in motion or may be presented only in a way that the
driver cannot see it directly." 


Drivers' aids include satellite navigation, road/driving condition advisory
systems and television camera based rear vision systems.

The Australian Road Rules prohibit drivers from watching television while
driving.


Cheers,
Tyson.


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