2576
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 66

(3) There shall be no avoidable obstruction of any nature whatsoever on the omnibus which may interfere with the driver’s near or distant vision, whether in front or to the right or left. No passenger or persons shall at any time be allowed to be in such a position on the omnibus that he interfere with the driver’s vision as aforesaid. An efficient approved wind-screen wiper must be fitted to prevent interference with the driver’s vision through the front wind-screen by rain, and efficient approved means must be adopted to prevent interference with the driver’s vision through the front wind-screen by the rays of the sun or otherwise howsoever.

(4) A mirror or mirrors shall be provided so that the driver may have a view of the interior of the omnibus, and to enable the driver to be aware without turning his head of the existence or approach of any other vehicle on the right-hand side behind the driver.

(5) An approved mechanical device efficient by day and by night must be provided and fitted, to the Inspecting Engineer’s approval, near the front of every omnibus to indicate to road users and controllers of traffic when the omnibus is about to turn towards the right or left and to warn vehicles in the rear when the omnibus is about to stop, reduce speed, or change direction. The device must be so fitted that when operated there is automatically illuminated a cautionary signal (which may be in the form of an amber lamp) at the rear of the omnibus. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these regulations or in any other regulations, the device may project outwards for a distance not exceeding 4 ft. 9 in. from the longitudinal centre-line of the omnibus and measured at right angles to that centre-line.

If the device fitted to the front of the vehicle would, when indicating a full turn to the right, project more than 4 ft. from the longitudinal centre-line of the vehicle it shall be fitted in such a position that it will be not less than 6 ft. 6 in. nor more than 7 ft. 6 in. from the roadway when the vehicle is fully laden. If a direction-indicator is also fitted to the rear of an omnibus, it must be fitted towards the off-side, not less than 3 ft. nor more than 4 ft. above the roadway when the vehicle is fully laden, and when in position to show a right-angle turn it shall not project beyond the outermost part of the entire omnibus body.

Liquid fuel.

9. (1) The driver of an omnibus shall not allow to be carried thereon more than fifty-eight Imperial gallons of liquid fuel at one time, save with the consent of the Inspecting Engineer (to be given only in special circumstances and for temporary purposes), nor shall the driver allow liquid fuel to be carried otherwise than in the permanent carrying-tanks.

(2) The said tanks shall be properly constructed of durable material, and shall be of ample strength for the purpose which they serve. They shall be so placed that any overflow shall not fall upon woodwork or be allowed to accumulate on the omnibus, and the filling inlet for the fuel must be brought without a joint to the outside of the body of the omnibus, and be placed as far as convenient, from a constructional point of view, from any doorway or exhaust piping, being not less in any case than 2 ft. therefrom.

(3) An aperture for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of liquid fuel may be provided in that portion of the tank which is within the body of the omnibus. Such aperture shall be fitted with a securely screwed-in bushing, with a hole not exceeding 1 in. in diameter in the middle thereof, through which a metal depth-rod shall pass. Such rod shall be permanently and rigidly attached at its upper end to a metal screw-on cap which itself shall properly and securely close the said aperture, except for any necessary air vent, while at the lower end of the rod there shall be provided a permanent stopper which will not pass through the said hole in the bushing, but will pass the tank aperture when the bushing is removed therefrom. No person shall remove the bushing save with the express approval of the Inspecting Engineer. The said aperture must be so situated that it will at all times, when the motor-omnibus is in use, be at a higher level than the filling-inlet.

(4) The filling-inlet must be provided with a secure cap, and any person removing the cap must fit it tightly in position immediately after the purpose for which it was removed is fulfilled.

(5) At the junction of each liquid-fuel supply-pipe and the tank there shall be a shut-off cock, readily accessible to the driver, for the purpose of turning off the supply of fuel from the tank.

Brakes.

10. (1) Every omnibus shall be fitted with at least two efficient independent brakes which comply with the requirements of the Motor-vehicle Regulations, 1928, and which conform to a type approved by the Minister of Transport by notice published in the Gazette.

(2) Any omnibus brake which simultaneously applies the braking-pressure on two wheels or drums with a common axis shall be so designed or fitted that the braking effect is approximately the same on each road wheel.

(3) For the purpose of testing the brakes the omnibus shall be presented either loaded or unloaded, as may be required by the Inspecting Engineer.

Alterations in Omnibus or Route.

11. (1) If the owner of an omnibus which is restricted by the Inspecting Engineer’s report to specific routes desires to carry passengers in that omnibus over any route different in whole or in part from the said routes, the written approval of the Inspecting Engineer shall first be obtained.

(2) No alteration shall be made in the design or construction of the omnibus otherwise than for fair maintenance requirements, nor shall any bulky equipment or fittings be added without the prior written approval of the Inspecting Engineer. Any such alterations or any substantial replacements shall comply so far as is considered reasonable by the Inspecting Engineer with any relative requirements of these regulations, whether contained in Part I or in Part II hereof.

(3) On the presentation to the Inspecting Engineer of a motor-omnibus for inspection, a certificate signed by the owner shall be given setting forth any alterations made or proposed to be made in the route since the last inspection, and also setting forth any alterations made in the brake mechanism or gear ratio (including particulars as to the size and nature of tires), and in the general condition or structure of the omnibus. If no such alterations have been made, a certificate to that effect shall be given.

Fire-extinguishers.

12. (1) Every omnibus shall be provided with at least two suitable appliances for extinguishing fire. Such appliances must be either of the tetra-chloride type or some other type approved by the Fire Underwriters’ Association as suitable for motor-vehicle service, and must at all times be effectively maintained by the owner of the omnibus, who shall also see that they are at all times carried, one near the front doorway, placed so as to be readily accessible from both inside and outside of the vehicle, and one in a readily accessible position at the rear end of and inside the omnibus.

(2) The driver of an omnibus must not allow the fire-extinguishers to inconvenience passengers, either by reason of their condition or position.

Signals.

13. There shall be available for every four passengers from each seat a ready and suitable means of signalling to the driver and to the conductor (if any).

Reflector.

14. A red reflector approved by the Minister of Transport for fitting to motor-vehicles shall be fitted to every omnibus in the proximity of the rear light as an extra protection in the event of the failure of the said rear light.

Fume, &c., Protection.

15. The omnibus must be so constructed and maintained that smells or fumes from the exhaust-pipe or other sources, or the heat from the motor, exhaust-pipe, or any other parts, shall not injuriously affect any part of the omnibus, or injuriously affect or interfere with the comfort of the passengers or driver.

Destination Sign.

16. On the front of the omnibus, not lower than 4 ft. from the ground, and above the driver’s normal line of vision, words to indicate for every single journey the destination and also, at a reasonable height on both sides thereof, the destination and general route of the omnibus shall at all times be kept so as to be clearly visible to persons of normal sight at a distance of 44 yds. At all times while the omnibus is by law required to be lighted a front indicator containing the information aforesaid shall be clearly illuminated. It shall be the duty of the driver of the omnibus to see that the destination and route signs are correct for each single journey, and that the front indicator is illuminated when required as aforesaid.

Tires.

17. Each tire of an omnibus shall be made of soft or elastic material such as rubber, and must be of good quality throughout, and shall always be maintained in a safe and satisfactory condition and with the view of minimizing vibration.