N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 21 § 1262.81

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 41, October 9, 2024

Section 1262.81 - Omnibus equipment

(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.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 21 § 1262.81