New NSW Bus Door Safety Requirements | SGESCO-MAX

SGESCO-MAX has proven safety solutions for new NSW Bus Requirements for door safety systems.

As of January 2023, new bus safety systems have come into force in NSW for any bus that:

• is licensed to carry over 12 people
• is registered for the first time after 1 January 2023, and
• has driver-controlled passenger doors.

The regulations are designed to ensure people are not injured by doors opening or closing and also go some way to preventing runaway buses.

Legislation Overview

The Technical Specification (TS) 160 sets the criteria for the design of a bus door safety system which is intended to prevent persons from being injured, potentially fatally, by a passenger door in a bus.

The compliant system will limit the opening and closing forces applied by a driver-controlled passenger door and, it will control the movement of the bus and warn the driver in the event that an object is detected, with the intention of preventing injury to minimise harm.

It will incorporate:

• A door sensor system to detect a door obstruction and re-open automatically if an obstruction
• A driver warning system with visual and audible alarm noting DOOR ALARM.
• A door brake system to prevent the bus from moving or stop it if already moving.
• An acceleration control system that controls the supply of energy to vehicle drive system, in specific circumstances – i.e. a speed limiting system

The door safety system is to operate without driver intervention whenever the engine ignition or other starting method is in the ‘ON’ position. It is to deactivate when the bus is travelling above a pre-set speed.

Additionally, as part of the new regulations, the bus must also be fitted with a driver warning system comprising an audible and visual alarm that activates if the driver turns the vehicle off or removes the ignition key without the handbrake applied. This will lessen the likelihood of rollaway incidents.

SGESCO-MAX Solutions

Due to our 20+years’ experience in heavy vehicle safety solutions, SGESCO-MAX has a range of technologies that can be easily installed and or adapted to ensure compliance with the new bus door safety requirements, said Scott McPherson, Managing Director of SGESCO-MAX.

The MAX-SAFE range of solutions encompass:

• European sensor technology to detect people within certain distance of the sensor and covering the required height levels (ground to 1.5 m)
• Active braking or stopping technology to halt an action – i.e. prevent the door from closing, prevent or stop a vehicle from moving without the handbrake being applied.
• Audible and Visual Alert Systems used to alert drivers, initially used in our Seat Belt Warning systems and solutions for reversing and passing.
• Speed limiting systems that can be programmed for up to 8 different speeds.

“Because of our experience in delivering safety solutions and knowledge of the dynamics of commercial and heavy vehicles, we are able to make functions conditional upon speed to ensure safe vehicle operation and safety for passengers,” said Scott.

“While the legislation is designed to alert the driver or a vehicle that is not securely braked, runaway vehicles could be better prevented if an active braking system were mandated,” Scott added. The MAX-SAFE Anti-Rollaway Solutions first introduced in 2000 is designed to do precisely that – protect people inside and outside of a vehicle, as well as vehicles and property.

In NSW large public buses have painted markings on floor arears where passengers are not permitted to stand for their own safety to ensure they are clear from inward opening doors.

This new legislation will see the uptake of technological advances to ensure greater safety, noted Scott. “It will be a welcome safety aid for drivers who have previously had to rely on mirrors to identify risks – often with passengers, partially obstructing their view.”

The 19-page Technical Specifications Document can be found here.

Contact SGESCO-MAX for further information on our bus safety compliance solutions and NSW dealers that can assist with installation.