Queensland Consolidated Regulations

TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (PASSENGER TRANSPORT) STANDARD 2000 - SCHEDULE 1

This schedule states the following--

(a) the requirements, under section 25(2) of this standard, for a vehicle used to provide a relevant service;

(b) the obligations, under section 25(3) of this standard, for an operator of a relevant service.

A prescribed vehicle is a relevant vehicle that is a bus, forward-control passenger vehicle or an off-road passenger vehicle.

(1) A prescribed vehicle is an open classification vehicle if it operates over an unlimited distance.

(2) A prescribed vehicle is a regional classification vehicle if it operates within a radius of 350km from the first passenger pick up point.

(3) A prescribed vehicle is a local classification vehicle if it operates--

(a) within a radius of 40km from the first passenger pick up point; or

(b) if the journey is entirely within a single or contiguous urban area--within a radius of more than 40km from the first passenger pick up point.

(1) A prescribed vehicle used for providing a relevant service must not be older than the maximum age for the vehicle stated in subsection (2), unless--

(a) the service life of vehicle has been extended under schedule 2; and

(b) the extension has not ended.

(2) For subsection (1), the maximum age is--

(a) for a heavy bus that is--

(i) an open classification vehicle--15 years; or

(ii) a regional classification vehicle--25 years; or

(iii) a local classification vehicle--25 years; or

(b) for a light bus that is--

(i) an open classification vehicle--10 years; or

(ii) a regional classification vehicle--20 years; or

(iii) a local classification vehicle--20 years; or

(c) for a forward control passenger vehicle or off-road vehicle that is--

(i) an open classification vehicle--10 years; or

(ii) a regional classification vehicle--10 years; or

(iii) a local classification vehicle--10 years.

(3) However, a prescribed vehicle that is both a light bus and a regional classification vehicle or local classification vehicle must be less than 15 years old when first introduced into service by the current operator of the service.

(1) For this schedule and schedule 2--

(a) the age of a vehicle is worked out starting on the following date (starting date)--

(i) if the date of first registration of the vehicle in Queensland or elsewhere is available--that date;

(ii) if that date is not available and a dated receipt for the first or only sale of the vehicle is available--the date of the receipt;

(iii) if neither of the dates mentioned in subparagraph (i) or (ii) is available--the date of manufacture of the vehicle's original body;

(iv) if none of the dates mentioned in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii) is available--the date of manufacture of the vehicle's original chassis; and

(b) a vehicle is an age in years at the beginning of the anniversary, for the age, of the starting date.

(2) Subsection (1)(a) applies subject to schedule 2, section 10(4).

(1) Subject to subsection (2), a bus must comply with the following ADRs as in force when the bus was manufactured--

(a) if it is an open classification vehicle--the ADRs applying to a non-route service bus with high-back seats;

(b) if it is a regional classification vehicle--the ADRs applying to a non-route service bus with high-back seats or low-back seats;

(c) if it is a local classification vehicle--the ADRs applying to a route service bus.

(2) If the bus is used in the wilderness, it must comply with the ADRs applying to a non-route service bus that were in force when the bus was manufactured.

(3) The seating of the bus must be--

(a) if it is an open classification vehicle--forward or rearward facing, coach-style, high-back seats; or

(b) if it is a regional classification vehicle or local classification vehicle--forward, rearward or side facing seats.

(4) The brakes of the bus must be a dual circuit system.

(5) If the bus is a regional classification vehicle and has side facing seats, the seats must be fitted with lap seatbelts complying with ADR 4/00 and ADR 5/00.

(1) This section applies to a prescribed vehicle used in the wilderness.

(2) The vehicle must be designed so that its occupants are protected from overhanging foliage and inclement weather.

(3) The driver and front passenger seating positions of the vehicle must have full windscreen protection.

(4) The vehicle must have adequate roll-over protection for all of its occupants.

(5) All seats in the vehicle must be forward facing.

(1) This section applies if an operator of a relevant service uses an open classification vehicle or regional classification vehicle to provide the service.

(2) The operator must not use the vehicle to carry or haul luggage, unless the luggage is--

(a) in a separate luggage compartment or a luggage trailer; or

(b) a passenger's light hand luggage or luggage stowed in an overhead locker or overhead luggage rack.

(1) This section applies if an operator of a relevant service uses a local classification vehicle not fitted with a luggage compartment to provide the service.

(2) The operator must not use the vehicle to carry or haul luggage unless--

(a) the luggage is carried in a trailer; or

(b) the operator--

(i) carries the luggage only in a preselected seating area forward of the passengers; and

(ii) secures the luggage with suitable tie downs or cargo nets.

An operator of a relevant service who uses a prescribed vehicle that is a bus to provide the service must not carry luggage in an aisle, or in another section of the bus, where it will impede passenger exit through doors or emergency exits.

The purpose of this part is to ensure padding is fitted to each hard surface, in a relevant vehicle that is a bus, that is likely to be struck by the head of a seated passenger if the bus is involved in a frontal collision.

This part applies to each of the following--

(a) a bus that is a regional classification vehicle;

(b) a bus that is a local classification vehicle and was introduced into service in Queensland after 31 December 1996;

(c) a school bus that--

(i) was introduced into service in Queensland after 31 December 1996; or

(ii) is a light bus and was less than 18 years old as at 5 July 2005; or

(iii) is a heavy bus and was less than 23 years old as at 5 July 2005.

Note--

See section 5 for how to work out the age of a relevant vehicle.

In this part--

minimum padded zone means the minimum padded zone shown in the following figure--

(1) If the top face or the rear face of the seat of the bus is a hard surface, padding must be fitted to the face.

Example of when padding need not be fitted under this subsection--

Typically, coach-style, high-back seats that have foam-backed upholstery or moulded foam coverings do not have hard surfaces and so do not require padding to be fitted under this subsection.

(2) The padding of the rear face of the seat must extend at least 50mm down the back of the seat from the top face of the seat.

(3) The top face and the upper 50mm of the rear face of the seat must be padded at least across the minimum padded zone to within--

(a) 80mm of the outside edge of the seat; and

(b) 80mm of the aisle side of the seat.

(1) An exposed handrail directly in front of a seat of the bus must be padded at least on the top, rear and front faces of the handrail at least across the minimum padded zone to within--

(a) 80mm of the outside edge of the seat; and

(b) 80mm of the aisle side of the seat.

Note--

This allows for the handrail at the aisle to be retained as a handgrip--see the figure in section 13.

(2) However, handrails with a bend may be padded up to the start of the bend if the padding--

(a) is not more than 120mm or not less than 80mm from the outside edge of the seat; or

(b) is not more than 120mm or not less than 80mm from the aisle side of the seat.

(1) Partitions directly in front of a seat of the bus must be padded so that the top face and the upper 50mm of the rear face of the partition are padded at least across the minimum padded zone.

(2) If the aisle side of the partition has a bend, the bend need not be padded.

(1) The padding must be--

(a) semi-rigid moulded polyurethane, self-skinning rigid moulded polyurethane, closed-cell polyethylene foam or closed-cell EVA foam that--

(i) is at least 25mm, but not more than 30mm thick; and

(ii) has a density of at least 270kg/m3, but not more than 300kg/m3; or

(b) a material that is of a thickness and density that gives at least the level of protection as is given under paragraph (a).

(2) The padding must be securely fastened to the seat, handrail or partition with fastenings that are protected to ensure they do not cause injury.

Each fitting, on the back of a seat or partition of the bus, that is outside the minimum padded zone must not be likely to cause injury to a passenger from an impact from a frontal collision.

(1) A relevant vehicle that is a school bus must be fitted with--

(a) warning signs complying with sections 20 and 21; and

(b) warning lights complying with sections 22 to 24.

Note--

For the use of, and prohibition on driving without, the warning lights and warning signs see the Queensland Road Rules, sections 222 and 222A.

(2) The warning signs may be fitted permanently to the bus or to a backing that allows them to be detached or folded.

(1) The bus must have 2 warning signs--

(a) 1 of which is fitted at the front, and the other of which is fitted at the rear of the bus on the inside or outside of the bus; and

(b) each of which is visible from outside the bus.

(2) However, a warning sign may be fitted on the inside of the bus only if the sign is as visible as, and is the same colour as, and is not significantly dimmer than it would be if it were fitted on the outside of the bus at the front or rear of the bus.

Example--

a warning sign fitted behind a clear back window

(3) Also, the warning sign must not be fitted where it obscures the driver's vision or hinders the use of an emergency exit.

(1) A warning sign on the front of the bus must display--

(a) the words 'school bus' in capital letters at least 100mm high in the vertical plane; or

(b) the required image.

(2) A warning sign on the rear of the bus must display the required image.

(3) A warning sign displaying the required image must--

(a) be rectangular; and

(b) either--

(i) if any of the warning lights are on the warning sign--be at least 550mm wide and 400mm high in the vertical plane; or

(ii) otherwise--be at least 400mm wide and 250mm high in the vertical plane; and

(c) have a black border; and

(d) have black graphics; and

(e) be coated, other than over the border or graphics, with retro-reflective material that--

(i) is yellow; and

(ii) is of class 1 or 2 as described in AS 1906; and

(iii) complies with AS 1906.

(4) The minimum height under subsection (3)(b) of a warning sign is based on the sign being mounted vertically.

(5) However, a warning sign may be lower than the minimum height in the vertical plane if--

(a) either--

(i) if any of the warning lights are on the warning sign--the warning light is at least 400mm high measured from its top to its bottom; or

(ii) otherwise--the warning light is at least 250mm high measured from its top to its bottom; and

(b) the warning light is mounted on a surface that is not more than 15&#deg; from the vertical.

(6) Accordingly, if the surface of the bus at a place where a warning sign may be fitted is more than 15&#deg; from the vertical, a warning sign may be fitted at the place if--

(a) the warning sign complies with subsection (5)(a); and

(b) the warning sign is mounted on a separate surface so that the sign can stand vertically or otherwise stand at not more than 15&#deg; from the vertical.

(7) Also, a warning sign may be fitted flush to a surface of the bus, at a place where a warning sign may be fitted, that is more than 15&#deg; from the vertical if the sign is made tall enough to achieve the minimum vertical height.

(8) In this section--

required image means an image of 2 children in the same proportions as the children in AS 1743, image W6-3, with the image of the taller child at least 230mm high.

(1) The bus must have a pair of warning lights--

(a) 1 of which is fitted at the front, and the other of which is fitted at the rear of the bus on the inside or outside of the bus; and

(b) each of which is visible from outside the bus.

(2) However, a warning light may be fitted on the inside of the bus only if the light from the warning light is the same colour as, and not significantly dimmer than, it would be if the warning light were fitted on the outside of the front or the rear of the bus.

Example--

a warning light fitted behind a clear windscreen

(3) Also, a warning light must not be fitted where it obscures the driver's vision or hinders the use of an emergency exit.

(4) A warning light must be fitted--

(a) on the left and right side of, and the same distance from, the centre of the warning sign that is on the same end of the bus as the warning light; and

(b) so the warning lights are at least 300mm apart; and

(c) so no part of the bus, including parked or operating windscreen wipers, obstructs the light displayed by the warning light--

(i) within an arc, in the horizontal plane, from 30&#deg; to the left to 30&#deg; to the right of the centre of the warning light; or

(ii) within an arc, in the vertical plane, from 10&#deg; above to 10&#deg; below the centre of the warning light; and

(d) so the lens of the warning light is not over 100mm from the warning sign that is on the same end of the bus as the warning light.

(5) However, a warning light on an end of the bus may be on the warning sign that is on the same end of the bus if the words or image on the sign are not obscured.

(6) Warning lights on the same end of the bus must be fitted--

(a) at the same height; and

(b) as high as practicable; and

(c) so no part of the lens of each light is lower than midway between the highest and lowest points on the body of the bus at that end of the bus.

(7) If the centres of warning lights on the same end of the bus are less than 1.8m above ground level, no part of the warning lights, or warning sign, on that end of the bus may be on the left side of the bus.

Each warning light must--

(a) have a lens with an effective lit lens area of at least 60cm2; and

(b) emit a yellow light that has been tested under the test procedure stated in ADR 6/00 and found to have a luminous intensity of at least the amounts mentioned in the following table when measured at the angles mentioned in the table; and

Note--

Indicator lights complying with ADR 6/00 are unsuitable for use as warning lights because the luminous intensity levels in the table are much brighter than the level required for an indicator light to comply with ADR 6/00.

(c) emit about the same amount of light as the other warning light of the pair; and

(d) be aimed so the beam from the light is focused--

(i) parallel to the road; and

(ii) parallel to the longitudinal centre line of the bus; and

(e) be built and adjusted so it can not dazzle the driver of another vehicle.

(1) The bus must--

(a) have a visible or audible signal that tells the driver of the bus when the warning lights are on; and

(b) be fitted with a switch that allows the driver, from the driver's normal driving position to turn on, or turn off, simultaneously all warning lights fitted to the bus.

(2) When operating--

(a) the warning lights on the same end of the bus must flash alternately; and

(b) the warning lights must emit regular flashes of light at a rate of at least 90, and not over 180, flashes a minute.

(3) The warning lights must operate automatically when a door on the bus opens and continue to operate--

(a) while a door is open; and

(b) for at least 10 seconds, but not more than 20 seconds, after all doors of the bus have closed.

Note--

For further requirements about the operation of warning lights, see the Queensland Road Rules, section 222A (Use of warning lights--picking up or setting down school children).

(1) A relevant vehicle that is a bus, other than a school bus, may be fitted with--

(a) school student warning signs if the warning signs comply with sections 20 and 21; or

(b) school student warning lights if the warning lights comply with sections 22 to 24.

(2) In this section--

school student warning sign means a sign to warn passing motorists of the possibility of school students in the area of the bus.

school student warning lights means lights to warn passing motorists of the possibility of school students in the area of the bus.

(1) This part applies to a bus that--

(a) is travelling on a no standing passenger road; and

(b) is carrying school students on a general route service, or school service, on a journey that is, or is part of, a journey to or from a school; and

(c) is or was introduced into service by the operator of the service after 4 July 2005 for a general route service, or school service, provided under a service contract, TransLink service contract or prescribed school service contract.

(2) However, subsection (1)(c) does not apply after 31 December 2009.

(1) This section applies if the bus--

(a) is a light bus built to carry not more than 16 passengers, whether seated or standing, not including the driver and crew; and

(b) is being used to provide a school service.

(2) Each passenger seat fitted to the bus must comply with ADR 68/00.

(3) However, if the bus is being used to provide a school service for which there is no prescribed school service contract, this section does not apply to the bus until 1 January 2010.

(1) This section applies if the bus is a light bus built to carry more than 16 passengers, whether seated or standing, not including the driver and crew.

(2) The bus must--

(a) comply with ADR 59/00; and

(b) be fitted with an exhaust brake.

(3) If the bus is being used to provide a school service, each passenger seat fitted to the bus must comply with ADR 68/00.

(4) However, if the bus is being used to provide a school service for which there is no prescribed school service contract, subsection (3) does not apply to the bus until 1 January 2010.

(5) The operator of the service must ensure the driver of the bus is trained in the use of the exhaust brake.

(1) If the bus is a heavy bus, it must--

(a) be a single-decked bus; and

(b) comply with ADR 59/00; and

(c) be fitted with a power-train retarder.

(2) If the bus is being used to provide a school service, each passenger seat fitted to the bus must comply with ADR 68/00.

(3) However, if the bus is being used to provide a school service for which there is no prescribed school service contract, subsection (1)(d) does not apply to the bus until 1 January 2010.

(4) The operator of the service must ensure the driver of the bus is trained in the use of the power-train retarder.

(1) An operator of a relevant service that uses a heavy bus to provide the service must, when the bus is 20 years old but before it is 21 years old, have a prescribed inspection entity inspect the body framework of the bus for signs of weakening caused by rust or incorrect repair.

Note--

See section 5 for how to work out the age of a heavy bus.

(2) Subsection (3) applies if an operator of a relevant service wants to introduce a heavy bus that is at least 21 years old into service in Queensland.

(3) Before introducing the bus into service in Queensland, the operator must have a prescribed inspection entity inspect the body framework of the bus for signs of weakening caused by rust or incorrect repair.

(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if--

(a) a prescribed inspection entity inspected the body framework of the bus--

(i) when the bus was 19 years old but before it was 20 years old; and

(ii) within the last 50000km travelled by the bus; and

(b) the inspection showed that the body framework was in a satisfactory structural condition.

(5) Subsection (3) does not apply if--

(a) a prescribed inspection entity has inspected the body framework of the bus--

(i) within 1 year immediately before the operator introduces the bus into service in Queensland; and

(ii) within the last 50000km travelled by the bus; and

(b) the inspection shows that the body framework is in a satisfactory structural condition.

(6) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply if--

(a) a 5 year service life extension, or an age zero refurbishment service life extension, has been obtained for the bus under schedule 2; and

(b) the extension has not ended.

(7) An operator of a relevant service that uses a heavy bus to provide the service must have a prescribed inspection entity inspect the body framework of the bus for signs of weakening caused by rust if the bus has substantial rust that may affect the structural integrity of the bus.

An operator of a relevant service that uses a bus to provide the service must ensure that a repair to the frame, bows or sheeting of the bus is performed by a qualified tradesperson in the trade to which the repair relates.

(1) This section applies if, because of corrosion or accident damage, it is necessary to carry out structural repairs to a bus used to provide a relevant service.

(2) The operator of the service must have the repairs inspected by a prescribed inspection entity.

(3) The operator must arrange with the prescribed inspection entity for the inspection before any painting of the frame or refitting of the body panels.

(4) After the inspection, the operator must obtain a written statement by the prescribed inspection entity of the names and qualifications of the persons who performed the repairs.

(1) An operator of a relevant service that uses a bus to provide the service must keep a written record of the maintenance done on the bus, for at least 5 years after its last maintenance is done.

(2) The record must include each statement obtained by the operator under section 32(4) for the bus.

(1) This section applies if a prescribed inspection entity--

(a) under part 6, inspects a bus that is used to provide a relevant service; and

(b) considers the bus is in a satisfactory condition.

(2) The operator of the relevant service must obtain from the prescribed inspection entity an endorsement on the maintenance record kept under section 33 that the bus has been inspected and is in a satisfactory condition.

(3) The endorsement must be signed and dated by the prescribed inspection entity.