Reg 252. Entrances, exits and emergency exits of mini‑buses and buses
(1) (a) A minibus, midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA shall be equipped with at least one passenger entrance leading from the left front side of such vehicle, Provided that: the provisions of this subregulation shall not apply to double deck bus which has a passenger entrance at the rear leading to the passenger compartment;
Provided that this provision shall not apply to a rapid transport bus, a rapid transport bus-train or a rapid transport feeder bus or midibus.
(b) A, minibus, midibus or bus shall have at least one emergency exit for every 12 persons, on the right or left hand side or the rear thereof:
Provided that, a door fitted for the use of the driver of such minibus, midibus or bus which is accessible to passengers, may be deemed to be such emergency exit.
(c) A bus or the lower deck of a double deck bus, shall have an emergency exit-
(i) on both sides in the floor; or
(ii) on both sides towards the front or rear:
Provided that, in the case of a single deck bus an emergency exit may b fitted in the roof of such bus in place of the emergency exits required on both side.
(d) The upper deck of a double deck bus shall have emergency exits-
(i) in the rear; or
(ii) on both sides and in the roof, of such upper deck,
(iii) and the number of emergency exits shall be evenly distributed throughout the vehicle; and
(e) An emergency exit shall have dimensions of at least 800 by 400 millimetres or 700 by 500 millimetres and shall be capable of being opened from the inside and outside and shall not open inwards.
(f) An emergency exit shall not be so positioned that the passengers have to pass through a goods compartment of a mini‑bus or bus or via the stairs of a double decker bus to reach such emergency exit.
(g) Escape hatches, knock‑out windows or knock‑out panels may be used as emergency exits and if a mini‑bus or bus is operated for reward such hatches, windows or panels shall be marked with the words “emergency exit” and “nooduitgang” on the inside and outside in letters of at least 50 millimetres in height.
(h) A door of the size and operating characteristics referred to in paragraph (e) may be used as an emergency exit.
(i) No entrance for persons, other than the driver, shall be provided on the right hand side of the longitudinal centre‑line of a mini‑bus or bus operating for reward.
(2) In the case of a mini‑bus or bus that has been converted from a goods vehicle, the requirements of paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (f), (g) and (h) of subregulation (1) shall be deemed to be satisfied if openings complying with the requirements of paragraph (e) of subregulation (1) are provided.
Provided that emergency exits fitted to any minibus, midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, and first registered on or after 1 July 2009, shall comply with the requirements of standard specification SANS 20107 “Uniform provisions concerning the approval of category M2 or M3 vehicles with regard to their general construction.
(3) Notwithstanding the requirements of subregulation (1) and (2) above, rapid transport buses and rapid transport bus-trains shall have at least the following number, size and position of doors:-
(a) rapid transport trunk bus – two doors on the right and one emergency exit on the left;
(b) rapid transport trunk bus-train – three doors on the right and two emergency exits on the left;
(c) rapid transport complementary bus – one door on the left and two doors on the right;
(d) rapid transport complementary bus-train – one door on the left and three doors on the right; and
(e) doors on the right shall provide a clear opening of at least 1100 millimetres and doors on the left shall provide a clear opening of at least:
(i) 650 millimetres in the case of a rapid transport trunk bus or rapid transport trunk bus-train, and
(ii) 850 millimetres in the case of a rapid transport complementary bus or rapid transport complementary bus-train
(f) the pitch of the various door configurations on the right shall be 6, 0 metres, and 3, 8 metres, and for any double doors 1, 4 metres (200 millimetre tolerance).
(4) The floor height above the ground at the doorways on the right-hand side of a rapid transport bus or a rapid transport bus-train shall be equal to or less than 940 millimetres (30 millimetre tolerance) or shall be less than 500 millimetres.
Reg 245A. Certain vehicles to display notice of load
(1) No person shall operate on a public road—
(a) a bus;
(b) a minibus—
(i) the gross vehicle mass of which exceeds 3 500 kilograms; or
(ii) which is designed or adapted for the conveyance of 9 or more persons, including the driver;
(c) a minibus , midibus or bus operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the provisions of the NLTTA, unless it is conspicuously displayed inside such vehicle in numerals of at least 75 millimetres high, a notice stating the load that may be carried on such vehicle in the terms set out in subregulation 2).
(2) The notice shall-
(a) in the case of a bus referred to in subregulation (1) that is permitted to convey persons, including wheelchair users and goods, be worded as follows;
CERTIFIED TO CARRY…..PASSENGERS SEATED AND PASSENGERS STANDING………KG GOODS AND ……WHEELCHAIR USERS. – (the latter only in vehicles with provision for wheelchairs).
(b) in the case of a midibus referred to in subregulation (1) that is operating in terms of an operating licence issued in accordance with the NLTTA and is permitted to convey persons only including wheelchair users, be worded as follows :
CERTIFIED TO CARRY…….PASSENGERS SEATED AND …… PASSENGERS STANDING 0 KG GOODS AND……WHEELCHAIR USERS (the latter only in vehicles with provision for wheelchairs); and
(3) The requirements for wheelchairs and anchorage shall comply with SANS 10370 “Road vehicles designed or adapted for use by or transporting persons with disabilities.
Reg 245B. Special needs accessibility
(1) No person shall operate on a public road a rapid transport bus or a rapid transport bus-train or a rapid transport feeder bus or midibus, unless it is provided with:
(a) facilities and equipment to accept and secure wheelchairs in accordance with SANS 10370;
(b) seats, known as priority seats for passengers with special needs, which shall be situated in a position near to a door that is suitable for boarding and alighting and shall comply with clause 3.2 of Annex 8 of SANS 20107. The colour of the priority seats shall contrast with the colour of the other seats in the rapid transport bus or rapid transport bus-train or rapid transport feeder bus or midibus;
(c) communication devices shall be placed adjacent to priority seats and within spaces for securing wheelchairs. The devices shall comply with clause 3.3 of Annex 8 of SANS 20107;
(d) vehicles fitted with space for wheelchairs shall display pictograms in accordance with Annex 4 of SANS 20107 and which are visible from the outside of the vehicle, both on the front nearside and adjacent to the relevant boarding and alighting door. Such pictograms (Figure 23A or Figure 23B) shall also be placed internally adjacent to the wheelchair space or the priority seat;
(e) steps, ramps and lifts shall be in accordance with SANS 10370.
(2) The facilities and equipment in subregulation (1) shall be provided at the following minimum rates:-
(a) In the case of a rapid transport bus at least one wheelchair, and six priority seats;
(b) In the case of rapid transport bus-train at least two wheelchairs, and eight priority seats;
(c) In the case of a rapid transport feeder bus or midibus at least one wheelchair, and 2 priority seats .
Kind regards
Alta Swanepoel