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

9.  Regulation 23(1)(Doors) shall not apply—

(a) in so far as it consists of sub-paragraph (j) in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st August 1968;

(b) save in so far as it consists of sub-paragraph (j) in the case of a vehicle registered before 19th June 1968 if—

(i) every entrance door and every exit door can be readily opened from inside and outside the vehicle by one operation of the locking mechanism:

Provided that a vehicle shall not be deemed to fail to comply with this sub-paragraph by reason only of the fact that, for the purpose of securing the vehicle when unattended, any entrance or exit door has been fitted with a supplementary lock with or without an actuating mechanism if the lock is so designed and constructed that the door can at all times be opened by a person inside the vehicle by one operation of the ordinary locking mechanism;

(ii) except in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st April 1959, the device provided outside the vehicle for operating the locking mechanism of the door (not being a device provided in relation to an emergency exit on the upper deck of a double-decked vehicle or in the roof of a half-decked vehicle) is readily accessible to persons of normal height standing at ground level outside the vehicle;

(iii) except in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st April 1959, means are provided for holding every entrance and exit door securely in the closed position;

(iv) except in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st April 1959, all locks and fastenings fitted to entrance and exit doors are so designed and fitted that they are not likely to become dislodged or be operated accidentally, and, in the said excepted case, door handles or levers to door catches are so designed and fitted that they are not likely to become dislodged or be operated accidentally;

(v) where any entrances are provided with doors which are designed to remain open when the vehicle is in motion, suitable fastenings are provided to hold such doors securely in the opened position;

(vi) except in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st April 1959, every sliding door and every folding door fitted to an entrance or exit is provided with suitable fastenings to prevent it from being closed by any movement of the vehicle;

(vii) all doors can open so as not to obstruct clear access to any entrance or exit from inside or outside the vehicle; and

(viii) except in the case of a vehicle registered before 1st April 1959, the means by which a power-operated door may be opened are provided inside the vehicle on or adjacent to the door and their position is clearly indicated and there is also an indication that the said means may be used by passengers only in an emergency; and the storage and transmission system of the power for operating the door is such that operation of the doors does not adversely affect the efficient operation of the braking system of the vehicle and the apparatus is so designed and constructed that in the event of the system becoming inoperative the door can be operated manually from inside and outside the vehicle.