Queensland Vehicle Standards Warning Lights and Signs on School Buses Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1)

Overview

The Queensland Vehicle Standards Warning Lights and Signs on School Buses Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1) was enacted to provide a temporary exemption for certain heavy vehicles from specific vehicle standards requirements. This notice, issued under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, aims to address a gap in the application of these standards to school buses and other buses in Queensland, ensuring they comply with local regulations rather than national standards. This exemption was implemented to facilitate smoother operations for buses used in school services while maintaining safety standards through adherence to Queensland-specific regulations. The notice applies across all roads in Queensland and exempts school buses and other buses from certain sections of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation 2013, provided they meet the Queensland bus light and signage requirements. The exemption was authorised by Richard Hancock, a delegate of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and took effect from 10 February 2014, expiring on 9 February 2019.

Scope and Application

The Queensland Vehicle Standards Warning Lights and Signs on School Buses Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1) provides an exemption from certain heavy vehicle standards for buses operating in Queensland. This notice applies to school buses carrying school students, as well as other buses operated in Queensland and fitted with warning lights after June 1999. The exemption is contingent on compliance with Queensland bus light and signage requirements, as outlined in Part 4 of the Transport Operations Passenger Transport Standard 2010. This notice, made under section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, commenced on 10 February 2014 and will expire on 9 February 2019. It is applicable across all roads within Queensland, and it exempts specified heavy vehicles from the prescribed vehicle standards to the extent and under the conditions detailed in the notice.

Key Provisions

This notice primarily exempts certain heavy vehicles from specific requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation 2013, as detailed in sections 10 and 11. Section 10 exempts school buses carrying school students from Division 16, Part 6 of Schedule 2 of the National Regulation, provided they comply with the Queensland bus light and signage requirements. Section 11 exempts other buses from the same regulation and allows them to be fitted with warning signs or lights if they adhere to the Queensland bus light and signage requirements. Section 12 specifies that this exemption applies to all roads within Queensland. The obligations imposed by this notice on the parties it governs are primarily about compliance with the Queensland bus light and signage requirements. For school buses, this means they must meet the specified lighting and signage standards to remain exempt from the national regulation requirements. Similarly, other buses must also comply with these standards if they wish to be fitted with warning signs or lights and benefit from the exemption. The notice does not impose additional obligations beyond ensuring compliance with these local standards. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences mentioned for breaching the conditions of this exemption notice. The primary consequence of non-compliance would be the loss of the exemption, thereby subjecting the vehicles to the national regulation requirements they were initially exempt from. It is important to note that while the notice itself does not specify penalties, any breaches of the national regulation from which the vehicles are exempted could result in penalties under that regulation.