15Wheelchair-accessible vehicles

15 Wheelchair-accessible vehicles

(1)  In this regulation –

seat of a motor vehicle includes –

(a) the driver's seat; and

(b) an individual seating position on a bench seat; and

(c) a demountable seat (being a seat that is so designed and constructed as to be capable of being readily removed from the vehicle without the need to structurally alter the vehicle); and

(d) a modifiable seat (being a seat that is so designed and constructed as to be capable of being readily retracted, collapsed or folded away when not in use or adapted to another use such as a sofa, bed or storage); and

(e) a seat that, in order to be used, requires the temporary retraction, collapsing or folding-away of a moveable console or armrest; and

(f) a position within which an occupied wheelchair may be secured.

(2)  A wheelchair-accessible taxi, in addition to the criteria for wheelchair-accessible taxis set out in Schedule 1 to the Act, must be fitted with a fire extinguisher.

(3)  If a vehicle, other than a wheelchair-accessible taxi, used to operate a service under the authority of a licence, is offered for hire as being wheelchair-accessible, the vehicle must –

(a) have no more than 12 seats in any configuration; and

(b) comply with the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 formulated under section 31(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 of the Commonwealth; and

(c) not have any modifications to make the vehicle wheelchair-accessible that significantly alter the original external appearance of the vehicle; and

(d) be fitted with –

(i) a wheelchair restraint assembly that complies with AS/NZS 10542.1.2009; and

(ii) a secondary, independent emergency-release mechanism on the wheelchair entry door that is clearly labelled with the words "EMERGENCY RELEASE"; and