Land Transport Rule

Passenger Service Vehicles Amendment 2007

Rule 31001/2

Note: This Rule should be read in conjunction with the consolidated version of Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999, which includes previous Rule amendments.

Contents

Objective of the rule

Extent of consultation

Material incorporated by reference

Section 1     Application

Section 2     Amendments relating to passenger service vehicles

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

Section 4     Amendments to Schedule

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles Amendment 2007 amends Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999, which specifies requirements for the design and construction of all passenger service vehicles in New Zealand.

The objectives of this amendment to Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999 are:

It is intended that these changes will contribute to the government’s objective of developing national, design performance standards for accessibility to public transport.

Minor amendments have also been made to update references to other Rules, and to amend definitions.

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, a number of relatively minor amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999 and 10 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2006 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). The main purpose of the changes proposed by the Omnibus Amendment Rule was to clarify provisions and to correct some errors in Rules.

On 28 June 2006, Land Transport New Zealand sent a letter containing the Rule amendment proposals to about 2200 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended, and sought submissions on the proposed changes. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the Land Transport NZ Help Desk and was available together with Questions and Answers on the Land Transport NZ website. The availability of the draft was publicised in metropolitan and selected regional daily newspapers, Te Karere National News and the New Zealand Gazette. Land Transport NZ received 50 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 14 commented on the proposed requirements for passenger service vehicles.

Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 11 separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister for Transport Safety for signing.

Material incorporated by reference

Documents that are ‘incorporated by reference’ in this Rule are available, on request, for inspection (free of charge) at the National Office of Land Transport NZ. Contact details for Land Transport NZ are listed at the front of this Rule.

 

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles Amendment 2007.

1.1(2)     This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999.

 

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on the 29 June 2007.

 

Section 2     Amendments relating to passenger service vehicles

2.1 Certification

Clause 1.4 is amended by omitting “1998” and substituting “2002”.

 

2.2     Application of Rule provisions

2.2(1)     Subclause 1.5(2) is amended by omitting “1998” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “2002”.

 

2.3     Doors and their operation

2.3(1)     Subclause 2.2(1) is amended by omitting “1997” and substituting “2001”.

2.3(2)     Paragraph 2.2(1)(a) is amended by omitting “2.2(1)(d)” and substituting “2.2(4)”.

 

2.4     Design and construction of dedicated emergency exits

2.4(1)     Paragraph 5.4(2)(a) is amended by omitting “Land Transport Rule: Glazing 1996” and substituting “Land Transport Rule: Glazing, Windscreen Wipe and Wash, and Mirrors 1999”.

2.4(2)     Subclause 5.4(3) is amended by omitting “1998” and substituting “2002”.

 

2.5     Safety requirements for special equipment

The heading to section 8 is revoked and the following heading is substituted:

“Section 8 Requirements for special equipment for persons with disabilities”.

 

2.6     Application

Section 8 is amended by revoking clause 8.1 and substituting the following subclauses:

“8.1(1)     Clauses 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 apply to vehicles fitted with equipment for persons with special mobility requirements that enter passenger service in New Zealand on or after 1 July 2000, and to passenger service vehicles fitted with that equipment on or after that date.

“8.1(2)     Clauses 8.5 and 8.6 apply to vehicles fitted with equipment to assist visually- or hearing-impaired passengers that enter passenger service on or after 1 January 2008, and to passenger service vehicles fitted with that equipment on or after that date.”

 

2.7     Wheelchair hoists and ramps

Clause 8.2 is amended by revoking subclause (1) and substituting the following subclause:

“8.2(1)     A wheelchair hoist and its attachment to a passenger service vehicle must either:

  • “(a) comply with the design and construction requirements of versions of AS 3856.1-1991 and AS 3856.2-1991, or AS/NZS 3856.1:1998 and AS/NZS 3856.2:1998 that were applicable at the time of attachment; or
  • “(b) be certified in accordance with Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 as complying with, or being equivalent to, the technical requirements of AS 3856.1-1991 and AS 3856.2-1991, or versions of AS/NZS 3856.1:1998 and AS 3856.2:1998 that were applicable at the time of attachment.”

 

2.8     Wheelchair and wheelchair-occupant restraints

Subclause 8.4(1) is amended by revoking paragraphs (a) and (b) and substituting the following paragraphs:

 

2.9     Requirements for special equipment for persons with disabilities

Section 8 is amended by adding the following headings and clauses:

8.5     Signs

“8.5(1)     A sign fitted to a passenger service vehicle to assist visually- or hearing-impaired passengers must comply with the location and illumination requirements in AS 1428-2 1992 as far as is practicable.

“8.5(2) If a passenger service vehicle is fitted with a sign that incorporates raised lettering or symbols to assist visually-impaired passengers, the letters or symbols must be at least 0.8 mm above the surface of the sign.

“8.5(3) If a destination sign is fitted to a passenger service vehicle operated in a scheduled route service, that sign or another complimentary destination sign containing equivalent or similar information must be visible for a passenger who is preparing to board the vehicle and who is outside the front passenger door.

8.6 Tactile surfaces and public address systems

“8.6(1) If the floor covering of a passenger service vehicle has tactile ground surface indicators to orient visually-impaired passengers, it must comply as far as is practicable with AS 1428-2 1992.

“8.6(2) If a passenger service vehicle is fitted with a public address system, the system must comply as far as is practicable with AS 1428-2 1992.

“8.6(3) If a passenger service vehicle that is fitted with a public address system is also fitted with a visual sign system for hearing-impaired passengers, the system must ensure that the hearing-impaired passengers can be provided with information equivalent to the information provided for passengers without hearing impairment through the public address system.

“8.6(4) If the operator of a passenger service vehicle assigns one or more seats to accommodate passengers with a disability or impairment, each seat must be fitted with a sign:

  • “(a) informing passengers that the seat is assigned for a passenger with a disability or impairment; and
  • “(b) requesting that a passenger without a disability or impairment vacate that seat if a passenger for whom the seat is assigned wishes to use it.”

 

2.10     Certificate of loading

Subclause 9.1(1) is amended by omitting “1998” and substituting “2002”.

 

2.11     Responsibilities of certifiers

Section 10 is amended by revoking clause 10.4 and substituting the following heading and clause:

“10.4     Responsibilities of vehicle inspectors and inspecting organisations

“10.4     A person authorised by the Director to certify a passenger service vehicle for compliance with this Rule under Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 must not do so if the person has reason to believe that the vehicle does not comply with this Rule.”

 

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

3.1     Insertion of new definitions

Part 2 is amended by inserting the following definitions in their appropriate alphabetical order:

Inspecting organisation has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

Vehicle inspector has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002

 

3.2     Amendments to existing definitions

3.2(1)     Part 2 is amended by omitting “1998” from the definition of low volume vehicle and substituting “2002”.

3.2(2)     Part 2 is amended by omitting “Safety” from the definition of Director.

 

3.3     Revocation of definition

Part 2 is amended by revoking the definition of certifier.

 

Section 4     Amendments to Schedule

4.1     Vehicle standards referred to in this Rule

The Schedule in Part 3 is amended by:

Land Transport Rule - Passenger Service Vehicles Amendment 2007 - Rule 31001/2
Land Transport Safety Authority of New Zealand, Te Mana Marutau Waka Whenua o Aotearoa