Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2003 No. 449

ROAD TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES

Public Service Vehicles (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Made

15th October 2003

Coming into operation

1st December 2003

The Department of the Environment, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Articles 66(1) and 218(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(1) and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Public Service Vehicles (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 1st December 2003.

Amendments to the Public Service Vehicles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985

2. In regulation 6(3) of the Public Service Vehicles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985(2) (inspection of vehicle and grant of licence) after sub-paragraph (c) there shall be added the following sub-paragraphs –

“(d)as regards vehicles which have been fitted with wheelchair restraining devices the requirements of regulation 115(1) of the Construction and Use Regulations (insofar as it relates to the question whether the wheelchair restraining devices are fitted or, as the case may be, maintained so that no danger is likely to be caused); and

(e)as regards vehicles which have been fitted with features associated with wheelchairs, boarding devices (lifts and ramps), optical devices to allow the driver to see the boarding area, signs and markings, communication devices, slip resistant surfaces, steps, floors and gangways, kneeling systems and lighting which is intended for wheelchair users to board or alight in safety the requirements of regulation 115(1) of the Construction and Use Regulations (insofar as it relates to the question whether the items are fitted or, as the case may be, maintained so that no danger is likely to be caused),”

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 15th October 2003.

L.S.

Stanley Duncan

A senior officer of the

Department of the Environment

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Public Service Vehicles Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1985 as follows.

Regulation 2 amends regulation 6 (inspection of vehicle and grant of licence) so as to impose the requirements in regulation 115(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 insofar as it relates to the question whether:

(a)wheelchair restraining devices are fitted, or as the case may be, maintained; and

(b)boarding devices such as lifts and ramps, optical devices to allow the driver to see the boarding area, signs and markings, communication devices, slip resistant surfaces, steps, floors and gangways, kneeling systems and lighting which is intended for wheelchair users to board or alight in safety are fitted, or as the case may be, maintained,

so that no danger is likely to be caused.

(1)

S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1); see Article 2(2) for the definition of “Department” and “prescribed”

(2)

S.R. 1985 No. 123; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 2000 No. 149 and S.R. 2003 No. 40