3504
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 82

Dimensions.

35. (1.) Above the exposed floor area, and for a distance of 8 in. on each side of the longitudinal centre-line of the body of the omnibus, the height from the top of the floor-covering to the roof or extension thereof shall not be less than 6 ft., clear of obstruction and exclusive of projections of any kind, including lighting fittings.

(2.) The maximum width of each omnibus (including projections of any kind, temporary or otherwise) shall not exceed 8 ft., and no part of the omnibus or of its equipment or load shall be more than 4 ft. from the centre-line of the wheel-track.

(3.) The maximum length of an omnibus, including fittings, attachments, and load, shall be 28 ft.

(4.) The body of any omnibus shall not overhang its rear wheel-track by more than 1 ft. 3 in. on either side.

(5.) The wheel-track of the steering-wheels shall be greater than that of any other pair of wheels on the omnibus.

(6.) The wheel-base shall in all cases be so proportioned that skidding, pitching, swaying, or other improper movements shall be avoided as far as possible.

(7.) The length by which the body overhangs the axis of the rear-wheels of an omnibus herein referred to as “the overhang,” shall not exceed two-fifths of the total length of the wheel-base, provided that in no case shall the overhang exceed 6 ft.

(8.) For the purpose of this regulation wheel-base means the distance from the middle point of the line of axis of the foremost pair of wheels on an omnibus to the middle point of the line of axis of the rearmost pair of wheels: Provided that, in the case of those omnibuses fitted with two rear axles (and their relative wheels) placed as close as possible one behind the other, the rear commencing-point of measurement of the wheel-base and the overhang shall be taken from the middle point of a line drawn from one rear-wheel axis to the other.

Body.

36. (1.) Every motor-omnibus shall be fitted with a permanent body made of wood, steel, or other similar endurable material approved by the Inspecting Engineer. The body shall be of good and robust design, shall be made of first-class materials, with first-class workmanship and finish, shall be designed to give full protection to passengers in any weather, and shall be permanently attached to the chassis.

(2.) The sides and roof of the body shall be non-collapsible.

(3.) Celluloid or other highly inflammable materials must not be used in the construction or fittings of the body.

(4.) Fittings must not have sharp corners or edges or extend in such a way as to render them likely to be a cause of injury to passengers or to their clothing.

(5.) Effective means must be taken to prevent, during service, any unnecessary rattle of windows or doors or other noises caused by movement of the body-frame.

(6.) Sufficient hand-rails, hand-straps or hand-grips must be provided for the convenience and safety of passengers when standing in or moving along passageways.

(7.) Every omnibus shall be fitted with glass side-windows of which one-half the total number shall be capable of being readily opened and closed. All window-openings shall be guarded for a distance of 4 ft. 6 in. from the floor with bars or netting, or by other means, so that a spherical body 5 in. in diameter cannot be passed through any opening within the said distance.

(8.) The omnibus must be so constructed that sufficient ventilation is provided by means other than the ordinary windows. Special ventilating-windows may be fitted, provided that, if accessible to passengers, they shall comply with the provisions of the last preceding subclause relating to guards, and provided also, that suitable provision is made for regulating the opening so that unnecessary drafts may be avoided.

Lighting.

37. (1.) While carrying passengers at any time when by law the omnibus is required to be lighted the interior shall, subject to the provisions hereinafter set out, be illuminated with electric light on the basis of a minimum of five candlepower to each five seats. When, owing to requirements of safety or paucity of passengers, or other proper circumstances, it would temporarily not be reasonable to meet the foregoing requirements, all or any of the internal lights, save that referred to in subclause (5) hereof may be switched off by the driver.

(2.) The lights shall be so distributed that the doorways and steps shall be clearly illuminated while in use, and so that light is well distributed throughout the interior of the omnibus.

(3.) No single light shall be less than eight candlepower.

(4.) Lamp-fittings shall be of a substantial nature, so that passengers will be protected as far as possible from breakages.

(5.) The lights must be so placed within the body of the omnibus, or must be so controllable by switches, or so guarded by shields or non-reflectors that the driver shall not be hampered by light direct or reflected from the internal lights. Independent circuits shall be provided so that, during lighting hours and while the omnibus is on service, at least one of the interior lights shall remain alight.

Steps.

38. (1.) Steps for the assistance of passengers in entering and alighting from the omnibus must be placed at all outside doorways (except emergency doors) which do not reach within 16 in. of the surface of a level roadway. Steps must be safe and convenient, and sufficient means must be provided by grip-handles to assist passengers using them.

(2.) The distance of the lowest step above the surface of a level roadway must be not more than 16 in. with the omnibus unloaded or less than 10 in. with the omnibus loaded, and the tire worn to its maximum. The rise between one step and the next shall not be greater than 12 in. The treading-surface of any step must not be less than 8 in. from front to rear. Every step shall be provided and maintained with a suitable covering or tread-plate to prevent slipping, and must be of the one continuous level for its full width.

Miscellaneous Fittings.

39. (1.) An efficient deep-toned warning instrument shall be attached to each omnibus within comfortable reach of the driver’s seat.

(2.) Buffers of a cushioning type to ameliorate injuries to the omnibus or passengers in the event of collision must be provided along the front of every omnibus.

(3.) The omnibus must be so constructed, or side guards or other approved appliances must be fitted, so that, save for any necessary steering-clearance, persons are protected from falling under the vehicle from the sides.

(4.) Mechanical devices, approved by the Inspecting Engineer and efficient by day and by night, must be provided on every omnibus to indicate to road users and controllers of traffic when the omnibus is about to turn to the right or left, and to warn vehicles in the rear when the omnibus is about to stop.

General Chassis Requirements.

40. (1.) The springs shall be of ample strength and shall be so designed, constructed, and secured that when the omnibus is travelling either fully or partially loaded it shall afford reasonable comfort to passengers under average conditions of its service and route.

(2.) The wheels must not be so heavy or so equipped that more than reasonable strain is placed upon the steering-gear.

(3.) For the protection of pedestrians from front collision every omnibus shall either be provided with a front protective guard, approved as being sufficient and satisfactory by the Inspecting Engineer, or the omnibus must have a clearance for the full length of the vehicle, and, for a width corresponding to the transverse distance between the tires, of at least 10 in. vertically from a level roadway to the nearest part of the chassis when the omnibus is fully loaded. Where the latter alternative is adopted protective rails or other approved devices must be provided to prevent the rear wheels from running over any person who may be prone and underneath the omnibus.

(4.) When ball and socket joints of steering-connections are used the longitudinal or transverse rods, as the case may be, must be carried upon and above the ball.

Plans and Specifications.

41. Before any new omnibus is licensed the Inspecting Engineer shall be supplied before inspection (and preferably before construction) with the makers’ specifications and other data, covering the design, strength and weight of the chassis, gear ratios, revolutions of engine when running at normal speed, and, when possible, steering-mechanism ratios. Similarly, plans drawn to scale and specifications shall be supplied showing all important dimensions and covering the design, strength, and quality of materials for the body and fittings.

J. W. BLACK,
Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.
(P.W. 26/5/2/14.)