Getting back on the school run is about more than grabbing a satchel, if you are a coach operator offering school run services. Ensure you are on top of everything necessary from a legal and safety perspective, as the curtain lifts on the autumn 2023 academic term.
Your responsibility to all passengers is to keep them safe and the law expects you to comply with all of its requirements. This starts with vehicle maintenance and ensuring the summer break has not allowed any defects to sneak in undetected. Carrying out a safety inspection of all of your school run vehicles is highly advisable, focusing on everything from suspension and steering, to braking and seat belts.
Pay particular attention to tyres and ensure none have had a birthday and slipped from 9 to 10 years of age, presenting legal issues.
Drill into your drivers that they are legally responsible for their vehicle’s condition when it is in use on the road and they must be alert to any emerging faults. Ensure they know how to record and report these – something especially important if you have recruited new drivers.
Equally, all drivers need to understand the fundamental importance of the daily walk-round check. Rather than have them pay lip service to this, or not do it all, you could consider incorporating a technology aid, which will force them to complete all aspects. Note that the DVSA says one third to one half of prohibitable defects that they find during roadside checks of vehicles could have been avoided, if the walk-round had been done properly.
Also be aware that each driver in charge of the vehicle during the course of the day, should be carrying out this duty.
Plan routes carefully and check there have been no alterations to them, or new things to consider, since schools broke up. Perhaps some roads now have a lower speed limit. Are roadworks closing some parts of your route, forcing drivers on to another that may have different hazards?
Make sure, in particular, that drivers are fully aware of their vehicle’s dimensions and understand how height restrictions on any local bridges could affect them, should they suddenly have to switch route.
From there, make sure any apps used to take payments are working correctly and that parents have been informed of any changes to routes or pick-up and drop-off times. Have a clear policy with regard to what you will do if a child does not have the app or any payment credit on it, or if their app does not work when they board the bus.
Thoroughly check drivers’ licences, monitor any health situations and carry out CRB checks. Document absolutely everything, from repairs to licence-checking, remembering driver defect reports must be kept for at least 15 months.
Finally, ensure vehicles are adequately insured and instigate robust risk-management to keep claims down. For help with that, call McCarron Coates on 0113 298 3489.
