The Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981

Steps, platforms and stairs

20.  Subject to paragraph 7 of Schedule 2—

(a) a platform from which passengers can step directly to the ground through an exit without any step intervening, or the top of the tread of the lowest step provided at any entrance or exit, other than an emergency exit, shall not be more than 435 millimetres above the ground when the vehicle is empty; all steps and the outer edge of any platform shall be fitted with non-slip treads; and fixed steps shall be not less than 225 millimetres wide and shall in no case project laterally beyond the body of the vehicle unless they are so protected by the front wings of the vehicle or otherwise are such that they are not liable to injure pedestrians; and

(b) in the case of a double-decked vehicle—

(i) the risers of all steps leading from the lower to the upper deck shall be closed and no unguarded aperture shall be left at the top landing board;

(ii) all steps leading from the lower to the upper deck shall be fitted with non-slip treads;

(iii) the horizontal distance from the nearest point of the riser of the top step to the vertical line passing through the nearest point of the seat opposite to the top tread of the staircase, excluding any grab rail which does not project more than 105 millimetres from the back of the seat, shall not be less than 660 millimetres; and

(iv) the outer stringer of an outside staircase shall be constructed, or a band shall be placed, to act as a sufficient screen to persons ascending or descending, and the height of the outer guard rail shall not be less than 1.21 metres above the front of the tread of each step.