12-seaters as Buses : Regulations to be Relaxed ?
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I MPORTANT concessions in the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations are proposed to enable utilities with up to 12 passenger seats to be used as buses_in rural areas. Even so, some modifications may have to be made to existing vehicles to enab4e them to comply with the relaxed regulations. Operators would be given reasonable time to make the changes, after which the regulations would he stringently enforced.
In making these proposals, the Ministry of Transport states: " It is thought that these vehicles will be used mainly to serve small communities not situated on any main route on which a reguldr service is already provided, and that intending passengers will be prepared to tolerate lower standards than customary as the only alternative to having no service at all."
, It is proposed that vehicles with up to 12 seats should not have to have a minimum ground clearance of 10 in. Pendant steering connections would be allowed.
No fuel tank should be immediately under any entrance or exit and no filler should be close to a door. Otherwise there would be no restriction on their position. No switch to isolate the starter from the battery would be necessary.
A passenger door at the rear inStead of on the near side, would he adequate, but off-side entrances would not be permitted on vehicles with up to 14 seats. (This is the only dispensation referring to 14-seaters.) An emergency-exit height of 4 ft. would be sufficient. No minimum width would be specified-for a gangway within 3 ft. of the exit, and a gangway height of 4 ft. 8 in., and 4 ft. for a distance of 1 ft. from each door opening, would be acceptable. The minimum width between the back-rests of longitudinal facing seats would be reduced to 4 ft. 6 in.
Above the centre of each seat cushion there would have to be a minimum height of 3 ft.
It would be unnecessary for the driver's seat to be adjustable vertically and horizontally and there would be no need for a grab handle beside the driver's off-side door. There would have to be reasonable access to the driver's seat, but no signalling system
between passengers and the driver would be required.
Interested organizations have been asked to comment on these proposals by June 22.
'Operators' reactions, page 604.]