Wiper blades are often seen as an insignificant car part, and most Australians think that having broken, damaged, or non-functional wiper blades isn’t an issue. The Australian Government disagrees. Wipers are considered a key safety feature of a car, and the road-worthiness of your car could be in jeopardy if your wipers aren’t in good working order.
Federally, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, has specific standards for wiper blades design, that all cars are required to meet with the wipers they have installed.
The states and territories have additional requirements, some of which are outlined below:
Queensland
In Queensland, wiper specific rules include that wipers need to be operational at all speeds, and return to their correct parked position. Blade rubbers and wiper arms are required to be in good condition, and not “split, frayed or perished”, and cars are required to have a windscreen washer system that is operational, correctly aimed and operable from the normal driving position.
New South Wales
Wiper standards are similar to Queensland, and having damaged wipers is a reason you could be denied your pink slip, or the renewal of your rego. In NSW you can also be fined $114 for having faulty wiper blades, and a further $114 for not having your wiper fluid filled.
Victoria
Victoria devotes Section H of the Vehicle Information Standards to wiper blades and what is required for a legal car. The focus is the performance of the wiper blades and ensuring adequate visibility for drivers. Interestingly in Victoria your rear wiper blade is not required to be operational for the car to be road-worthy.
Tasmania
Tasmanian wiper blade laws align predominantly with Australian Federal standards, without substantial changes, and focus on windscreen visibility.
South Australia
A car can be considered “defective” in SA, if the wiper blades are not in “good working condition”. These defects can be raised in official inspections, or if you are pulled over in your car by a police officer.
Western Australia
In WA, an emphasis is on the fact you should use wipers when required, and regularly check wiper fluid levels. The West Australian government specifically mentions that it is safe to replace your wipers yourself, and that this work doesn’t need to be carried out by a certified repairer.
Northern Territory
NT makes sure to highlight how other car repairs may impact your wipers, and how it is essential to ensure that wipers can be operated normally regardless of repairs undertaken.
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