PREPARATION OF A DRAFT NATIONAL CODE OF PRACTICE RETROFITTING PASSENGER RESTRAINTS TO BUSES January 2006 Prepared by Vehicle Design and Research Pty Limited National Transport Commission Preparation of Draft National Code of Practice for Retrofitting Passenger Restraints to Buses Report Prepared by: Michael Paine, Michael Griffiths and Bill Bailey ISBN: REPORT OUTLINE Date: JANUARY 2006 ISBN: Title: Preparation of Draft National Code of Practice for Retrofitting Passenger Restraints to Buses Address: National Transport Commission Level 15/628 Bourke Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.ntc.gov.au Type of report: Project report Objectives: To document the decisions taken in the preparation of the draft Code of Practice NTC Programs: Bus Occupant Safety Key Milestones: This is a review of national guidelines that have been in operation since 1994. Abstract: A draft Code of Practice has been prepared to set out requirements for modification of existing buses with the intention of improving occupant protection in crashes. Purpose: To provide background information on the draft Code of Practice. This report is not intended to be a public document. Key words: Bus, seat belt, crash, occupant protection Comments by: Not applicable Comments to be addressed to: Chief Executive National Transport Commission L15/628 Bourke Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 FOREWORD The National Transport Commission (NTC) is a statutory body established by an intergovernmental agreement to progress regulatory and operational reform for road, rail and inter-modal transport to deliver and sustain uniform or nationally consistent outcomes. Following the research that was commissioned for the NSW RTA into the retrofitting of seatbelts for buses and coaches, as well as advice from the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), it was concluded that the original guidelines (“Guidelines for the Voluntary Modification of Existing Buses and Coaches to Improve Occupant Protection”) need to be revised.