Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) (Exemption) Notice 2017
The Transport Commission makes the following notice under regulation 57 of the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Operations) Regulations 2014 .
This notice may be cited as the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) (Exemption) Notice 2017 .
This notice takes effect on the day on which its making is notified in the Gazette.
(1) In this notice –40 km/h speed limit sign means the speed-limit sign required to be installed on the rear of a bus under regulation 106(3)(a) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations;Vehicle Standards Regulations means the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2014 .(2) A word or phrase that is defined in the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 or the Vehicle Standards Regulations and used in this notice has the same meaning in this notice as it has in that Act or in those regulations.(3) The Acts Interpretation Act 1931 applies to the interpretation of this notice as if it were regulations within the meaning of that Act.
4. Application of exemption notice
An exemption specified in this notice –(a) applies to all areas of the State; and(b) applies at all times of the day; and(c) remains in force for the period of 12 months commencing on the date on which this notice takes effect.
5. Exemption from location requirements for warning lights in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 104(2)(a) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations does not apply to a bus that has been fitted with 2 warning lights as required in those regulations.(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the condition that the 2 warning lights fitted to the bus –(a) are both fitted above, or below, the warning sign; and(b) are fitted so that the centre point of an imaginary horizontal line drawn between the 2 lights is within 50 millimetres of the vertical axis of the warning sign.
6. Exemption from location requirements for warning signs in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 104(2)(b) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations does not apply to a bus that has been fitted with a warning sign as required in those regulations.(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the following conditions:(a) that the warning sign fitted to the bus is not more than 300 millimetres from the nearest point on the lens of the warning lights fitted to the bus;(b) that, due to the design of the bus, it was not practicable to fit the warning sign within 200 millimetres from the nearest point on the lens of the warning lights fitted to the bus.
7. Exemption from location requirements for warning signs in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 106(2)(b) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations does not apply in respect of a warning sign fitted to a bus.(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the following conditions:(a) that the warning sign fitted to the bus –(i) is an electronic sign that is also used to display the location to which the bus is travelling; and(ii) is fitted to the front of the bus;(b) that the warning sign fitted to the bus displays the words "SCHOOL" or "SCHOOL BUS" in capital letters at least 100 millimetres high while the warning lights fitted to the bus are flashing as required under regulation 105 of the Vehicle Standards Regulations.
8. Exemption from requirement for warning signs to be square in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 106(4)(a) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations does not apply in respect of a warning sign fitted to a bus.(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the condition that the bus is fitted with a warning sign that is a rectangle.
9. Exemption from certain specifications for warning signs in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 106(5)(b), (c) and (d) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations do not apply in respect of the part of a warning sign fitted to the rear of a bus that displays the words "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH".(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the condition that –(a) the bus is fitted with part of a warning sign that –(i) displays the words "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH"; and(ii) is a single sign that is a minimum of 300 millimetres wide; and(iii) is between 210 and 440 millimetres high; and(iv) displays each word on a separate line with each word being centred horizontally on the line; or(b) the bus –(i) has a GVM that does not exceed 6 000 kilograms; and(ii) is fitted with part of a warning sign that is made up of 3 separate signs that –(A) together display the words "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH"; and(B) comply with regulation 106(5)(b) and (c) regulation of the Vehicle Standard Regulations, as applicable; and(C) are each 300 millimetres long and 70 millimetres high; and(D) when fitted, are aligned horizontally and are vertically stacked (without space between each sign) to read "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH".
10. Exemption from certain fitting specifications for warning signs in certain circumstances
(1) Subject to the conditions specified in subclause (2) , regulation 106(6) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations does not apply in respect of the part of a warning sign fitted to the rear of a bus that displays the words "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH".(2) The exemption under subclause (1) is subject to the condition that –(a) in the case of part of a warning sign that complies with clause 9(2)(a) or (b) of this notice, that part of the warning sign is fitted to one side of the 40km/h speed-limit sign fitted to the bus; or(b) in the case of part of a warning sign that complies with regulation 106(5)(d)(i) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations –(i) the bus has a GVM that does not exceed 6 000 kilograms; and(ii) both pieces of that part of the warning sign are fitted to the bus –(A) immediately above or below, or to one side, of the 40km/h speed-limit sign fitted to the bus; and(B) to read "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH"; or(c) in the case of the part of a warning sign fitted to the rear of a bus that displays the words "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH", including part of a warning sign referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this subclause –(i) it is impossible due to the design of the bus to fit that part of the warning sign in accordance with regulation 106(6) of the Vehicle Standards Regulations; and(ii) that part of the warning sign is fitted within 150 millimetres of the 40km/h speed-limit sign fitted to the bus; and(iii) when fitted, any separate signs are aligned to read "WHEN LIGHTS FLASH".
This notice was made by the Transport Commission at a meeting held on 6 December 2017.
The common seal of the Transport Commission was affixed on 6 December 2017, in the presence of –
Gary Swain
The Transport Commission
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 9 December 2017
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the notice)
This notice provides for the exemption, subject to conditions, of certain buses from the operation of certain provisions of the Vehicle and Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2014 relating to warning signs and warning lights required to be fitted to those buses.