Hong Kong Regulations

ROAD TRAFFIC (CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 76

Driver's accommodation

(1) Every bus and light bus shall comply with the following requirements-

   (a)  the vehicle shall be so designed that the driver, when sitting in his
        seat, has adequate room and can readily reach and operate the
        controls, including the devices for controlling the
        direction indicators and stop lamps;

   (b)  the controls shall be so placed as to allow reasonable access to the
        driver's seat;

   (c)  the accommodation for the driver shall be so arranged as to afford
        adequate protection in bad weather;

   (d)  means shall be provided to enable the driver to see the passengers on
        each deck without leaving his seat;

   (e)  means shall be provided to prevent light from the interior of the
        vehicle from incommoding the driver and in respect of any window
        placed on that side of the centre line of the vehicle which is
        occupied by the driver, the means so provided shall be capable of
        being operated by the driver when in his seat;

   (f)  where access to the driver's seat is obtained from the off side of the
        vehicle-

        (i)    an opening in the side of the vehicle shall be provided which
               shall have a clear width of not less than 450 millimetres,
               except where this dimension cannot be provided by reason only
               of the presence of a portion of the wheel arch in that opening;
               and

        (ii)   a step shall be provided on the vehicle at a convenient
               position and height adjacent to the opening if the lowest point
               of the sill of that opening is more than 650 millimetres from
               ground level when the vehicle is unladen;

   (g)  where a separate and enclosed compartment is provided for the driver
        and access to the driver's seat is obtained from the off side of the
        vehicle, an emergency escape window shall be provided (otherwise than
        on the off side of that compartment) which shall be readily accessible
        to the driver and shall have a clear opening with dimensions of not
        less than 530 millimetres by 460 millimetres; and

   (h)  where any seat for a passenger is placed to the side of the driver's
        seat-

   (i)  whether the seat is a separate seat or is continuous with the driver's
        seat, a space of at least 460 millimetres measured from the centre of
        the steering column on the side on which the seat is placed shall be
        reserved for use solely by the driver; and

        (ii)   if the seat is continuous with the driver's seat or if it is a
               separate seat so placed that any part of it is nearer to the
               centre of the steering column than 460 millimetres, the said
               space shall be divided off by means of a solid partition having
               a height of at least 230 millimetres measured from the seat
               level of the driver's seat and extending for the whole depth of
               the seat.

(2) Every bus shall comply with the following requirements-

   (a)  the driver's seat shall be capable of being adjusted in a vertical
        direction and in a horizontal direction parallel to the longitudinal
        axis of the bus and of being firmly secured in any desired position
        within the limits of such adjustments; the range of such adjustments
        shall permit the seat to be fixed in a position such that the
        horizontal distance between the nearest part of the steering wheel and
        the back rest of the seat is 350 millimetres and the vertical distance
        between the lowest part of the steering wheel and the horizontal plane
        level with the top of the seat cushion is 200 millimetres and also as
        to permit the seat to be adjusted at least 50 millimetres forwards,
        backwards, upwards and downwards from that position;

   (b)  direct and reasonable access shall be provided to the driver's seat
        either from the off side of the bus or by means of a passage which
        shall be not less than 300 millimetres in width up to a height of 760
        millimetres above the floor of the bus and not less than 350
        millimetres above that height and shall comply with the requirement
        prescribed in relation to the gangway of a bus by regulation 71(1)(b);
        and

   (c)  where access to the driver's seat is obtained from the off side of the
        bus a grab handle shall be fitted to assist the driver in boarding and
        alighting from the bus.