This is draft guidance, and we welcome your feedback

Corridor clearance describes the area around and along a traffic lane that needs to be clear of obstructions for a vehicle to be able to operate safely.

Public transport services have unique clearance requirements as buses need to regularly pull alongside the kerb to let passengers board and alight. This brings buses close to roadside obstructions including street trees, verandas, utility assets and street furniture. Maintaining appropriate corridor clearance is an important way of mitigating the risk of collision with roadside obstructions. Appropriate corridor clearance can also make manoeuvring buses easier for the driver which can improve public transport reliability and accessibility.

Health and safety risk

Operating public transport services comes with health and safety risks. These health and safety risks need to be managed by the relevant transport operator.

Roadside obstacles are one health and safety risk that transport operators need to be aware of and may need to work with road controlling authorities to manage. Roadside obstacles pose risks to bus drivers, passengers using the public transport service and other road users.

Maintaining appropriate road corridor clearance safety margins is an important way of mitigating this risk and is in the interests of public transport service operators, road controlling authorities and other interested parties such as public transport authorities and utility providers.

Close communication and cooperation between all of these parties is important to help maintain appropriate corridor clearance safety margins.