ew regs to aid disabled
Page 13
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REGULATIONS have been lai before Parliament that are di signed to assist disabled pa sengers travelling with whee chairs in minibuses. Th regulations will make it easii for minibuses operated by ye untary bodies transportin disabled people to be fitted wit tail lifts.
At present, organisation wishing to operate tail-li equipped minibuses must eithi have their vehicles modified s that a separate emergency exit provided or not operate the' under a minibus permit.
The new Regulations are it tended to overcome legal obsti cles to the fitting of tail lifts 1 vehicles operating under It conditions required by th Minibus Act 1977 while malt taming adequate safety requin ments.
For the operators of largi buses and coaches, the Depar ment of Transport is circulatin a consultation paper containin proposals for a voluntary coo of practice concerning speck features needed on other star dard buses and coaches to rani ble disabled passengers to carried in their wheelchairs.
The code will deal with th size of doors, and gangways t allow room for wheelchairs an arrangements for fixing whee chairs while the bus or coach in motion.
The code of practice shoul help to ensure conformity ( pracice by certifying officers an give operators and manufactu ers guidaribe on the kind I provision which needs to made for wheelchair passent ers.