No. 269/1936:

SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES REGULATIONS, 1936.

SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES REGULATIONS, 1936.

ARRANGEMENT OF ARTICLES.

PART I.

PRELIMINARY.

1. Short title.

2. Interpretation and effect.

3. Definitions.

4. Measurement of vehicles.

5. Passenger accommodation.

6. Saver for existing vehicles.

PART II.

SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES GENERALLY.

7. Application of Part II of the regulations.

8. Seats.

9. Tyres.

10. Steering mechanism.

11. Securing of bolts and pins.

12. Locking of nuts.

13. Leakage of fuel.

14. Insulation of electric leads.

15. Exhaust pipe, etc.

16. Steps.

17. Body.

18. Carrying inflammable or dangerous substances.

19. Equipment.

20. Internal illumination.

21. Carriage of luggage.

PART III.

VEHICLES USED AS STREET SERVICE VEHICLES IN A TAXIMETER AREA.

22. Application of Part III of the regulations.

23. Overall length.

24. Overall width.

25. Permanent top.

26. Door.

27. Opening of doors.

28. Partition.

29. Roof.

30. Upholstery.

31. Measurement of body, door and seats.

32. Fitting of taximeters.

SCHEDULE.

S.I. No. 269 of 1936.

SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES REGULATIONS, 1936.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACT, 1933 .

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

The Minister for Local Government and Public Health, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Road Traffic Act, 1933 , and in particular by Sections 15, 20 and 134 of the said Act, hereby makes the following regulations, that is to say :—

PART I.

PRELIMINARY.

1. These regulations may be cited as the Small Public Service Vehicles Regulations, 1936.

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act, 1923 , applies for the purpose of the interpretation of these regulations as it applies for the purpose of the interpretation of an Act of the Oireachtas.

(2) These regulations shall have effect in addition to and not in derogation of The Mechanically Propelled Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Order, 1934.

3. In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have meanings hereby respectively assigned to them.

" Vehicle " means small public service vehicle.

" Permanent top " of a vehicle does not include a hood of canvas or other flexible material capable of being readily folded back so that neither any portion of such hood nor any fixed structure forming part of the roof of the vehicle remains vertically above any seat or part of a seat of the vehicle but subject to such exclusion means and includes any covering used permanently or temporarily as a roof for the vehicle.

" The Act " means the Road Traffic Act, 1933 .

4.—(1) The length of a vehicle shall be measured in the direction in which the vehicle travels, and the word longitudinal shall be interpreted accordingly.

(2) In calculating the overall length of a vehicle the length of any of the following attachments shall be ignored, that is to say :—

(a) The starting-handle.

(b) The hood.

5.—(1) For the purposes of the Act and of these regulations and subject to the provisions of the next following sub-article the passenger accommodation of a vehicle shall be the total sitting accommodation for adults in such vehicle, and such total shall be ascertained according to the following rules, that is to say :

(a) The number of adults for whom sitting accommodation is provided by means of any continuous seat in the vehicle shall be ascertained by allowing sixteen linear inches width for each adult.

(b) Where two or more separate seats in the vehicle are divided in such a way as to allow of their being used alternatively as a continuous seat, such seats shall be treated as one continuous seat.

(c) Subject to the preceding rule every separate seat in the vehicle except the driver's seat shall be deemed to provide sitting accommodation for one adult.

(2) For the purposes of the Act and of these regulations the passenger accommodation of a vehicle shall be the total sitting accommodation for adults in such vehicle, provided, however, that if and so long as three or more children under the age of fifteen years are being carried on such vehicle the passenger accommodation shall be increased by one for every three of such children.

6. In the case of any vehicle which has been before the making of these regulations registered in Saorstát Eireann under the Roads Act, 1920, and licensed under the Finance Act, 1920, as a hackney carriage or as a small public service vehicle, it shall not be necessary in order to comply with Part III of these regulations to make any alterations in the construction of such vehicle which were not required to be made therein by any statute or order in force at the making of these regulations.

PART II.

SMALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES GENERALLY.

7. The provisions of this part of the regulations shall apply to all vehicles.

8.—(1) The supports of all seats shall be firmly fixed in position, and at least sixteen inches measured in a straight line along the front of each seat shall be allowed for each passenger.

(2) Cross, or transverse seats shall be so fitted that when facing each other there shall be a clear space of at least sixteen inches between any part of the front of a seat and any part of any other seat which faces it.

9. Every vehicle shall be fitted with pneumatic tyres.

10.—(1) The steering mechanism shall be so constructed and arranged that no overlock shall be possible and that the wheels shall not in any circumstances foul any part of the vehicle.

(2) Dust excluding covers fitted to any joint or connection of the steering mechanism shall be capable of being easily removed to facilitate inspection.

11. All steering and braking connections secured with bolts or pins shall have such bolts or pins fitted with some efficient form of locking device. All bolts and pin connections shall be so made that when they are in any position other than horizontal the head of the bolt or pin shall be uppermost.

12. All moving parts and all parts subject to severe vibration connected by bolts or studs and nuts shall be fastened by lock nuts or by nuts and efficient spring or lock nut washers, or by castellated nuts and split pins or by some other efficient device, so as to prevent their working or coming loose.

13.—(1) All carburetters and apparatus associated therewith shall be so placed that no fuel leaking therefrom can fall upon any part or fitting which is capable of igniting such fuel, or into any receptacle where such fuel might accumulate.

(2) The exhaust pipe shall not be fixed in such a position that oil or any vaporisable or inflammable material is likely to be dropped upon it.

(3) Fuel tanks shall be so placed that no overflow therefrom can fall upon any woodwork or accumulate where the fuel is likely to be readily ignited.

14. All electric leads shall be adequately insulated and protected from injury and so placed that they cannot cause any danger.

15. The exhaust pipe and all apparatus connected therewith shall be so fitted and maintained in such condition as to prevent so far as practicable fumes from entering the vehicle.

16. Where the floor of the vehicle is more than fourteen inches above the ground suitable steps shall be fitted to facilitate entrance or exit from the vehicle.

17. The body shall be securely fixed to the chassis and the floor boards shall be strong and well fitted.

18. No highly inflammable or otherwise dangerous substance shall be carried inside a vehicle except fuel and lubricant necessary for the use of the vehicle carried in properly constructed and fitted fuel tanks.

19. On every vehicle the articles mentioned in the schedule to these regulations shall be carried.

20. Adequate artificial lighting shall be provided for the internal illumination of any vehicle fitted with a permanent top.

21. Provision shall be made for the carrying of a reasonable quantity of luggage and efficient means provided for securely packing such luggage on the vehicle.

PART III.

VEHICLES USED AS STREET SERVICE VEHICLES IN A TAXIMETER AREA.

22. The provisions of this part of the regulations shall apply only to vehicles fitted with taximeters and used as street service vehicles in a taximeter area.

23. The overall length of a vehicle shall not exceed fifteen feet six inches.

24. The overall width of a vehicle shall not exceed six feet three inches.

25. Every vehicle shall be fitted with a permanent top.

26. Where accommodation is provided for a passenger beside the driver, the vehicle shall be provided with four doors.

27.—(1) Every door shall be capable of being readily opened to its full extent and shall be provided with check straps.

(2) Every door shall in being opened to its full extent, turn through an angle of not less than eighty degrees.

28. The body of every vehicle shall be fitted with a solid partition dividing the driver's seat from the rear compartment, and such partition shall be fitted with a sliding window capable of being readily opened.

29. If the roof is to be used to carry luggage, a suitable fixed roof guard shall be provided.

30. Every vehicle shall be properly upholstered with leather or good quality artificial leather.

31.—(1) The height from the floor to the upper surface of the cushions on the seats shall not be less than twelve inches.

(2) The height inside from the upper surface of the cushions on the seats to the roof at the lowest part thereof shall not be less than thirty-six inches.

(3) Where front occasional folding seats are provided, the distance from the partition between the front and rear compartment to the front edge of the back seat shall not be less than two feet six inches.

(4) The distance between the front edge of the cushion on the back seat and the back of the seat, measured along the surface of the cushion, shall not be less than twenty inches. The distance between the front edge of any occasional folding seat and the back edge thereof shall not be less than fourteen inches.

(5) The width of a doorway shall not be less than twenty-one inches.

32. The taximeter which is required by the Act to be fitted to a vehicle to which the provisions of this part of these regulations apply shall be fitted in such a manner as to comply with the following requirements, that is to say :—

(a) The taximeter shall be securely attached to the vehicle so that it cannot be detached or caused to become inaccurate by vibration of the engine or of the vehicle in motion.

(b) The position of the taximeter on the vehicle shall be such as to enable a person inside the vehicle easily to see and read the taximeter while the vehicle is in motion.

(c) The transmitter cable which connects the taximeter with the wheels or the driving mechanism (as the case may be) of the vehicle, shall be so situated as to render damage to such cable unlikely and shall be protected by an outer cover of such construction as to prevent such damage.

Given under the Official Seal of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health this 28th day of September, One Thousand Nine Hundred and Thirty-six.

(Signed),

SEAN T. O'CEALLAIG

Minister for Local Government

and Public Health.

SCHEDULE.

1. A suitable wheel or rim fitted with a tyre and capable of being fitted to the vehicle for immediate use.

2. An apparatus capable of raising any wheel fitted to the vehicle to a height not less than six inches clear of the ground.

3. A kit of tools, including such tools as are necessary for any repairs which might reasonably be expected to be carried out in the course of a journey.