Entrance and exit

Reasons for rejection

Mandatory requirements

1. A heavy PSV, other than a stretch limousine, with the floor at the entrance and exit door more than 410mm above the surface of the level roadway does not have a step or ramp (Figure 6-3-1).

2. Unless the entrance is of a stretch limousine or an outdoor access vehicle or is a left-front passenger entrance providing access for less than three passenger seating positions, the distance from the ground to the tread surface of the lowest entrance level is 410mm or more, with the unladen vehicle on a level surface and with any driver-adjustable suspension in its lowest position.

3. A required entry or exit step does not meet the following (Figure 6-3-2):

a) the rise from one step to the next is 300mm or more.

b) the depth of a step from front to inner riser is less than 200mm.

c) the width of a step parallel to the doorway is less than 550mm

d) an intermediate step that is cut away to allow space for the door to open is:

i. less than 180mm deep, or

ii. less than 250mm wide.

4. A permanent external step or ramp on the side of the passenger service vehicle:

a) extends more than 20mm beyond the adjacent body line of the vehicle, or

b) could injure a person (eg is not pedestrian friendly).

5. A manually operated extending step on the side of the vehicle:

a) does not have an audible or visual alarm to warn the driver when the vehicle is moving that the steps are extended more than 20mm beyond the adjacent bodyline of the vehicle, or

b) could injure a person (eg is not pedestrian friendly).

6. On a vehicle with a power operated retractable step:

a) the movement of the step is not synchronised with the operation of the associated door, or

b) the vehicle is able to move under its own power when the step is extended, or

c) if the associated door is not within the driver’s direct view, the door is able to be closed with a passenger on the step (compliance with this requirement may be demonstrated by placing a weight of 15kg at the centre of the step), or

d) the step protrudes more than 10 mm beyond the adjacent line of the body work when the associated door is closed.

7. On a vehicle with a mechanically operated retractable step, the step protrudes more than 10mm beyond the adjacent line of the body work when the associated door is closed.

8. A ramp is not:

a) at least 800mm wide, or

b) at least 760mm wide with a 20mm high safety ridge along the side edges.

9. A fully extended ramp from a vehicle parked on a flat level surface has a gradient that is steeper than 1 in 4.

10. A handhold on steps or a ramp has a cross section dimension:

a) smaller than 20mm, or

b) greater than 45mm.

11. A vehicle does not comply with the requirements relating to mandatory requirements and equipment set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 6-3.

Condition and performance

12. A vehicle does not comply with a requirement relating to condition or performance set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 6-3.

Figure 6-3-1. Height of floor from surface of level roadway

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation

• Land Transport Rule: Passenger Service Vehicles 1999.

Mandatory requirements

1. Except for a stretch limousine, if the floor of a heavy PSV at the entrance or exit door is more than 410mm above the surface of the level roadway, there must be a step or ramp which complies with the following requirements:

a) unless the entrance is of an outdoor access vehicle or is a left-front passenger entrance providing access for less than three passenger seating positions, the distance from the ground to the tread surface of the lowest entrance level must be less than 410mm when measured with the unladen vehicle:

i. on a flat horizontal surface, and

ii. if the height of the suspension can be adjusted from the driver’s seat, the vehicle is in its lowest suspension position.

2. Unless the entrance is of a stretch limousine or an outdoor access vehicle or is a left-front passenger entrance providing access for less than three passenger seating positions, entry and exit steps must meet the following dimensional requirements:

a) if more than one step is provided, the rise from one step to the next must be less than 300mm, and

b) the step depth from the front edge to inner riser must be at least 200mm, and

c) the step width parallel to the doorway must be at least 550mm, and

d) If more than one step is provided, any intermediate step which is cut away to allow space for the door to open must be at least 180mm deep and at least 250mm wide.

3. Permanent external steps and ramps on the side of the passenger service vehicle must not extend more than 20mm beyond the adjacent body line of the vehicle, and must be constructed so that they are not likely to injure any person.

4. Manually operated extending steps on the side of the passenger service vehicle must:

a) be constructed so that they are not likely to injure any person, and

b) protrude no more than 20mm beyond the adjacent body line of the vehicle when they are folded away, and

c) if the steps extend more than 20mm beyond the adjacent body line of the vehicle, have an audible or visual alarm system that alerts the driver if the vehicle is moving and the steps are extended.

5. Retractable steps must comply with the requirements of the version of UN/ECE Regulation No 36, UN/ECE Regulation No. 107 or Directive 2001/85/EC, which was applicable either:

a) if they were fitted before the vehicle entered service as a PSV in New Zealand, at the time when the vehicle entered service as a PSV in New Zealand, or

b) if they were fitted after the vehicle entered service as a PSV in New Zealand, at the time the steps were fitted.

6. Power operated retractable steps must meet the following requirements:

a) the movement of the step must be synchronised with the operation of the associated door, and

b) the vehicle must not be able to move under its own power when the step is extended, and

c) if the associated door is not within the driver’s direct view, the door must not be able to be closed with a passenger on the step (compliance with this requirement may be demonstrated by placing a weight of 15kg at the centre of the step), and

d) the step must not protrude more than 10 mm beyond the adjacent line of the body work when the associated door is closed.

7. Mechanically operated retractable steps must not protrude more than 10mm beyond the adjacent line of the body work when the associated door is closed.

8. Ramps must be at least 800mm wide, or at least 760mm wide with a 20mm high safety ridge along the side edges.

9. A ramp which is fully extended from a vehicle parked on a flat level surface must not have a gradient that is steeper than 1 in 4.

10. The cross section dimension of handholds on steps or ramps must have no dimension smaller than 20mm or greater than 45mm.

11. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to mandatory requirements and equipment set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 6-3.

Condition and performance

12. A vehicle must comply with the requirements relating to condition and performance set out in the VIRM: In-service certification, section 6-3.