Are Reversing Beepers Compulsory?
A reader recently asked if reversing beepers are compulsory on their delivery trucks, and are they allowed to turn them off when nearby residents complain about the noise?
Trucks reversing up to a loading dock.
Neighbours complaining about noise from commercial operations is not uncommon, particularly when many deliveries are made out of normal business hours.
Local council staff will likely take increasingly stronger action as they seek to enforce “zero noise at the boundary”, in order to minimise complaints from their residents.
Below is a summary of the legal requirements for warnings while reversing.
ADRs Do Not Mandate Reversing Beepers
The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for vehicles sold in Australia do not mandate audible reversing alarms, but do specify minimum performance requirements for when they are fitted eg they have to be loud enough above background noise.
New Reversing ADRs from 2025
From 1 November 2025 all new vehicle and truck models will have to be fitted with reversing cameras and motion sensors, and new vehicles of existing models will have to comply with this by Nov 2027.
Current Reversing Beepers Too Loud and Project Sound Everywhere
Most reversing beepers are deliberately louder than they need to be, as the manufacturer’s appear to believe louder is safer, and want to be sure they comply with the requirement of beeper to be heard above background noise.
Existing reversing beepers also project the sound “360 degrees” around the truck, which is annoying to everyone not behind the truck, where the warning is needed.
A squawker type reversing beeper.
New Squawker Type Beepers Quieter
Some trucking companies have changed over to “Squawker” type beepers, which automatically adjust to only 5-10 decibels (dB(A)) above ambient noise levels, and have a deeper lower sound while maintaining safety standards.
According to one squawker supplier, Vhedia, squawker beepers only direct their lower sound into the hazard zone at rear of the truck. They say, “you only hear it if you need to”.
Conclusions:
Fitting reversing beepers is not a legal requirement of the current ADRs, but when fitted must be effective eg be audible above the background noise.
Note: Workplace safety regulations may require a risk assessment and measures to protect people behind reversing plant or vehicles, but reversing beepers are not mandated.
It is potentially dangerous to allow safety devices, like reversing beepers, to be turned off at the driver’s discretion, as it is more likely they will be left off when they are really needed, or forgotten and left off permanently.
Most reversing beepers are too loud and project the sound all around the vehicle, and too much sound can confuse people in hazard zone.
New Squawker type reversing beepers are much quieter and direct the lower sound only to the rear of the truck. If adopted, Squawker type beepers might reduce or eliminate noise complaints and allow delivery firms to maintain their policy of not turning off the beepers, until new technology eliminates the need for them.
Reversing beepers are not effective in all circumstances and do not guarantee the safety of people in the danger zone behind the vehicle eg deaf, drunk or drug affected vagrants at loading dock unlikely to act or quickly enough.
A higher level of safety is achieved when the driver can see and be warned of people or objects when reversing and stop eg reversing cameras and sensors, as opposed to reversing beepers requiring people to hear and jump out of harm’s way in time.
Moving forward it is likely the new ADRs from 2025 & 2027 mandating reversing cameras and motion sensors will replace the need or desire for reversing beepers, and the world will be a quieter and more pleasant place for everyone.
