National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Driver Safety Screen) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Driver Safety Screen) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)

1.       Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to exempt public passenger transport ultra-low floor buses modified for the installation of a driver safety screen from certain prescribed heavy vehicle standards.

1.        Authorising Provision

This notice is made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) as in force in each participating jurisdiction.

1.        Commencement

This notice commences on 17 June 2025.

1.        Expiry

This notice expires 16 June 2030.

1.        Title

This notice may be cited as the National Heavy Vehicle Standards (Bus Driver Safety Screen) Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

1.        Definitions

1.     Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.
2.     In this notice—

Driver’s emergency exit means a pathway from the driver’s cabin to either the outside of the bus or to the passenger cabin by which you can then get to the outside of the bus in the case of an emergency.

Driver safety screen means a driver protection device, which has been designed and fitted in accordance with the document titled “Bus Industry Confederation – Driver Safety Screens Guide”

Ultra-low floor bus means a bus that—

(a) has stairless entry;

(b) is accessible to wheelchairs; and

(c) is authorised to carry standing passengers.

1.        Application

This notice applies to a heavy vehicle which is an ultra-low floor bus, fitted with a driver’s safety screen and used to provide public passenger transport.

1.        Exemption – Prescribed vehicle standards for driver safety screens

1.     All other requirements applicable to the vehicle that are not affected by the fitment of the driver safety screen must comply with relevant vehicle standards.
2.     Referring to Table 1, any driver safety screen fitted to an ultra-low floor bus used to provide public passenger transport and operating under this notice is exempt from the requirement in Column 2, of the Australian Design Rule in Column 1, providing it satisfies the requirement in Column 3.

Table 1: Exemptions from prescribed vehicle standards

1.       Conditions

1.     The fitment of the driver safety screen must be performed in accordance with the “Bus Industry Confederation – Driver Safety Screens Guide” dated May 2025.

Note: “Bus Industry Confederation – Driver Safety Screens Guide” is published on the Regulator’s website.

1.     The driver safety screen must be designed and fitted in a way which minimises any non-compliances listed in Table 1.
2.     The driver’s emergency exit is not to be considered when ensuring the vehicle complies with all Australian Design Rule emergency exit requirements.
3.     Prior to disposing of an ultra-low floor bus fitted with a driver safety screen to anyone other than an operator providing a public passenger transport service, the vehicle must be returned to a configuration that complies with all applicable ADRs.
4.     This notice only applies to an ultra-low floor bus which is used to provide public passenger transport service and has been modified to fit a driver safety screen prior to 1 July 2027.

Dated 17 June 2025

Kelli Walker

A/Chief, Safety and Productivity

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator