Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
Brakes.
(1) Every omnibus shall
be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and to
hold such omnibus. Two separate means of brake application shall be provided,
one of which shall be an emergency brake applied manually or by spring action.
These two separate means of applying the brakes, shall be so constructed that
failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave the omnibus
without operative brakes.
(2) Every
omnibus shall have separate mechanical emergency brakes, manually operated,
capable of stopping the vehicle at a rate of deceleration equivalent to a stop
within 75 feet from a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(3) Omnibus service brakes shall be power
type brakes, shall operate on all four wheels and shall be capable of producing
a smooth stop at a rate of deceleration equivalent to a stop within 22.2 feet
from a speed of 20 miles per hour.
(4) Every omnibus equipped with airbrakes,
hydraulic power brake system with accumulator, vacuum power brakes or vacuum
operated doors shall have a reservoir of sufficient capacity to furnish power
for at least two operations of the brakes and two operations of the doors or
other power operated devices after the engine has stopped.
(5) Every omnibus equipped with airbrakes or
hydraulic power systems with accumulator shall have a non-glare illuminated
gauge, clearly visible to the driver, to indicate the pressure in the
reservoir. Also, there shall be a device which will give a distinctive audible
or visible warning signal when the pressure in the reservoir accumulator is
insufficient to activate any power operated device on the omnibus.
(6) Power brakes shall not be equipped with
any device which, upon application, reduces the braking effort in such a manner
as to prevent compliance with the specifications of this subdivision.
(b)
Lights.
(1) Interior lighting in all omnibuses shall
be designed and shielded so as to minimize reflection and glare on the
windshield.
(2) All omnibuses shall
be equipped with one of the following stalled warning signal systems:
(i) Three red emergency electric lanterns
or
(ii) Circuitry that permits
front and rear identification lights to blink or
(iii) Circuitry that permits turn-signal
lights on both sides, front and rear, to blink, simultaneously.
(c)
Defrosters and
windshield wipers.
All omnibuses shall be equipped with dual windshield
defrosters and dual electrically, air or vacuum-with-booster operated
windshield wipers.
(d)
Safety glass.
All omnibuses shall have safety plate glass windshields
and safety glass in all other windows and doors.
(e)
Speedometer.
Every omnibus, in addition to special devices and
gauges required in other sections of this regulation shall be equipped with a
speedometer mounted in a position clearly visible to the driver and maintained
in good operating condition.
(f)
Dimensions.
An omnibus may not exceed the following over-all
dimensions:
(1) Length-40 feet, 0
inches
(2) Width-8 feet, 6
inches
(3) Height-11 feet, 0
inches
(g)
Chassis.
(1) On all omnibuses the
rear overhang shall not exceed 7/24ths of the over-all length of omnibus
measured from the center line of rear axle.
(2) Omnibus (except sedan type chassis frame
extensions) are prohibited and the body will not extend more than 15 inches
beyond the rear of the main frame supporting the body.
(3) Omnibuses carrying more than 21 adult
passengers shall be provided with an aisle that shall extend from the rear edge
of the front entrance door to and not terminate forward of the back of the
second seat from the rear, and shall be:
(i)
75 inches from floor to ceiling.
(ii) 14 inches minimum clear width.
(4) All omnibuses shall have
adequate metal guards installed at the forward end of each section of the
driveshaft and also at the rear end of each section where necessary, to prevent
the shaft from dropping to the ground or whipping through the floor or causing
damage to the brakes, fuel and exhaust systems in case it breaks or becomes
disconnected.
(5) All omnibuses,
except sedan type, shall mount heavy duty towing hooks suitably attached to the
frame of the vehicle both front and rear.
(h)
Entrance and exits.
(1) In all omnibuses all doors shall be
designed and constructed as to prevent accidental opening. Except in sedan type
omnibuses all such vehicles having an additional entrance-exit door rearward of
the front door shall be equipped with an audible or visible signal indicating
door is not completely closed. Door controls shall be readily accessible to the
driver.
(2) All omnibuses, except
sedan type, shall be provided with an emergency door which must be located on
the left side to the rear of the center of the passenger section, or at the
rear center, with an aligned passageway from the main aisle to the door except
that approved type "push-out" windows may be substituted in lieu thereof with
the following minimum required:
(i) 10-19
passengers-1 on each side
(ii)
20-29 passengers-2 on each side
(iii) 30-39 passengers-3 on each
side
(iv) over 39 passengers-4 on
each side
(3) These
minimum requirements are reduced by one push-out window on the right side in
all omnibuses having a separate exit door operable by a passenger from the
inside in an emergency. Such an exit service door may be substituted for an
emergency exit door in all omnibuses having a seating capacity of less than 30
adult passengers.
(4) The following
minimum allowable dimensions shall apply to entrance-exits:
Height |
Width |
Emergency exit door ....... |
48" |
18" |
Emergency passageways ....... |
48" |
12" |
Emergency exit push-out window ....... |
17" |
24" |
Regular entrance-exit doors (where adult
passenger seating capacity exceeds 21) ....... |
72' |
24" |
(5) In all omnibuses emergency doors shall be
maintained in proper operating condition and both door and passageway thereto
shall be unobstructed.
(6)
Emergency doors in all omnibuses shall have an adequate three point locking
device equipped with an operating handle designed and constructed to release
easily, but not accidentally, to open the door from the inside. Spring loaded
latches shall have inspection openings for proper maintenance.
(7) In all omnibuses emergency doors shall be
conspicuously lettered in letter not less than one and one-half inches high and
shall be designated by a red light combined electrically with the headlight
circuit of the vehicle.
(8) In all
omnibuses an audible or visible signal to the driver shall be installed and
operated to indicate to the driver when the emergency door is not fully closed
and latched.
(9) Push-out emergency
windows in omnibuses shall mean a window, usually hinged at the top, that can
be opened by exerting hand pressure on the interior surface of the window or by
releasing a locking device and pushing window outward.
(10) In all omnibuses directions for use
shall be conspicuously displayed on the interior immediately above or adjacent
to each emergency push-out window.
(11) Bars on windows of the passenger section
of all omnibuses are prohibited.
(12) In all omnibuses, except sedan type, the
entrance-exit step wells shall be illuminated and shall have safety treads with
slip resisting qualities. Handrails, handholds, stanchions or grab handles
shall be provided at all entrances and/or exits.
(i)
Heating and ventilating.
(1) Heating systems on all omnibuses using
exhaust gas to heat air carried within the passenger section or exhaust gas
passing through conductors within the passenger section are
prohibited.
(2) Heating devices on
all omnibuses using gasoline, or other fuel, shall be of a type approved by the
Underwriter's Laboratory, and the fuel line connections shall be located
outside of the passenger section.
(3) An omnibus equipped with a heater
designed to draw air from the outside shall have intakes for free air located
forward of the rear axle, except in an omnibus having the engine located at the
rear end, such air intakes shall be located forward of the center of the
passenger section. Heaters and hot water lines installed within the passenger
section shall be shielded, where necessary, to prevent injury to the driver and
passengers in case any part thereof breaks, leaks or becomes
disconnected.
(4) Every omnibus
shall be equipped with a system of ventilation capable of distributing an
adequate supply of free air throughout the passenger section.
(5) On all omnibuses air intakes and exhaust
vents for the ventilation system, other than air conditioning system or a power
exhaust vent which operated constantly when the engine is running, shall be
located forward of the center of the passenger section and not below the floor
line. If equipped with a power ventilation system it shall be controlled power
type system.
(j)
Mirrors.
All omnibuses, sedan type excepted, shall be equipped
with at least two mirrors, one on each side of the body.