Safe School Transport

Safe School Transport Drivers Guide FIGHTING SMOKING CCTV LITTER GRAFFITI GOOD BEHAVIOUR - TAKE IT ON BOARD

Dear School Bus Driver The Safer Travel Unit has produced this leaflet to help you maintain good standards of safety on the school bus. It contains the Safety Guide for Drivers of School Buses - please read this carefully and follow it whenever you have school children on board. We know that school bus drivers can sometimes face difficult situations because of the unacceptable behaviour of a minority of pupils on school buses. Bad behaviour poses a risk to safety as well as being unpleasant for other passengers. The Safer Travel Unit is committed to tackling this problem and we have produced leaflets for parents and teachers outlining their responsibilities in this area, as well as two aimed at pupils themselves. If you have any queries or concerns about the Safety Guide or about any aspect of school transport, you should first approach your supervisor or manager for advice. If you should wish to contact The Safer Travel Unit directly, you will find an address at the end of this booklet. We know that school transport could not function without the efforts of dedicated drivers. The Safer Travel Unit would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your work on school services.

BUS PASS GENERAL - DRIVERS AT ALL TIMES MUST 1 Remember that the welfare of the pupils is of paramount importance. 2 Never drive a vehicle they consider to be unroadworthy or in contravention of any relevant PCV regulations or legislation. Report any faults to your depot immediately. 3 Ensure that the service operates at the advertised time. 4 Ensure if any child has forgotten and/or is unable to tender the fare, you must take note of the child s name and address and notify your employer at the earliest convenience. A child should not be refused travel for this reason, except if he/she refuses to provide their name and address. 5 Avoid physical contact with pupils wherever possible. Maintain a courteous and professionally detached relationship with your passengers. Inappropriate conversation topics and language must be avoided at all times. 6 Take into account that some children may have a disability, e.g. difficulties in walking, or poor eyesight and take appropriate action to aid children who have a disability.

SPITTING GENERAL - BOARDING & ALIGHTING: 7 Display the statutory school bus signs on all relevant journeys. 8 Ensure that all children are picked up and set down at the designated or appropriate points on the authorised route unless otherwise notified. During adverse conditions drivers must act reasonably with children, taking due account of the journey home and the age of the child. 9 Ensure that children are picked up and set down at a suitable and safe place. Particular attention must be paid to any hazards, traffic or obstructions having due regard to road markings, in particular yellow school keep clear markings. 10 Ensure that the vehicle is stopped on the same side of the road as the school entrance unless otherwise directed, so that children do not have to cross the road. Always park so that pupils alight on the footway and not the carriageway. Ensure that the side door is used at all times. If pupils have to exit from the rear of a minibus then the driver must supervise this operation. SMOKING 11 Keep all doors closed and securely fastened until the vehicle is at a complete standstill. Do not drive away until all pupils are seated. 12 It is your responsibility to ensure that customers are issued with a ticket for their journey (if applicable) and that they remove it from the ticket machine. It is the customers responsibility to retain the ticket for inspection. If you encounter any problems with this procedure, you must report it to your employer at the earliest opportunity.

BUS PASS BOARDING/ALIGHTING/SAFETY IN THE VEHICLE 13 Ensure that there is no smoking by any person at any time. Report all instances of smoking. 14 Ensure that for all journeys involving the carriage of primary school children, on reaching the terminal point, all children have alighted from the vehicle before proceeding to the next journey. 15 Ensure that, where fitted, seat belts are used. On minibuses and on the front seat of coaches, it is the driver s responsibility to ensure that children under 14 wear a seatbelt and are responsible for doing so. On other than the front seats of coaches, children of all ages should wear a seatbelt and are themselves responsible for doing so. A single seatbelt must not be worn by more than one person. On no account must three children be seated on a double seat.

SPITTING SAFETY IN THE VEHICLE/EMERGENCIES 16 Ensure that all doors are securely closed after any children enter or leave the vehicle. Where fitted, child proof locks should be used. Check that no bags or clothing are caught in the door(s) when closed and that all children are well clear of the vehicle before moving off. Be aware of the possibility of children returning for items after they have left the bus. 17 Ensure, where possible, that all children remain seated and that they SMOKING do not interfere with the doors/emergency exits of the vehicle. Children must not stand at the front of the vehicle. 18 Stop the vehicle, if there is any misbehaviour on the part of any pupil which may lead to an accident, until the situation is resolved. Cases of indiscipline must be reported to your employer. 19 Ensure that all doors and emergency exits are functional and remain free of obstruction giving a clear exit in case of an emergency. 20 Know how to use the vehicle s fire extinguisher and first aid kit where fitted. 21 Be totally aware of the correct incident/reporting procedure within your organisation.

BUS PASS EMERGENCIES 22 Ensure that pupils remain on the vehicle throughout their journey to and from school. In the case of a vehicle breakdown or accident, pupils should remain on the vehicle until a replacement vehicle can be provided or repair effected unless, in the opinion of the driver, there would be a significant hazard in them doing so. If in the case of breakdown or accident pupils are required to transfer to another vehicle then the driver must supervise this operation. 23 In the event of an accident or delay on the journey to school, if it is safe to do so, ensure that pupils should continue to be conveyed to school and not allowed to go home, unless advised otherwise by the Police or Ambulance Service. 24 In the case of an accident or delay to the journey due to severe weather, the school and the Contract Manager should be informed of the situation as soon as possible. If it is not possible to complete the journey due to severe weather e.g. snow, children should not be allowed to complete the journey on foot, but should be taken to the nearest accessible Police Station.

DRIVER WARNING In the event that passengers become so unruly you feel your safety, or that of other passengers, is at risk consider giving the following warning: I have stopped this bus because you are causing a disturbance, which makes it unsafe for this journey to continue. I will remain stationary until you have all sat down in your seats and become quiet. I am about to notify my own central control who will notify your school. If you do not return to your seats and remain quiet it may be necessary for me to call the Police. In the meantime I would advise you to remain on the bus beacause we have not yet reached our destination. The doors of the bus are open, but I would advise you not to leave for your own safety. If you would like to contact The Safer Travel Unit, please write to The Safer Travel Unit, Environment Directorate Policy and Public Transport, Guild House, Cross Street, Preston PR1 8RD

CCTV The Safer Travel Unit works in partnership with your employer to make your journey safe. Pupils identified breaking any of these simple rules, either via the school bus prefect network, on-bus CCTV systems, your report, or by a complaint, risks immediate exclusion from all home to school transport provided by your local authority. How can you help? If you see any incidents taking place, act responsibly. You should report the incidents as instructed by your employer. The hotline number is 0845 053 0040 For more information visit our website at The Safer Travel Unit investigates all reported incidents.

Anti-Social Behaviour Hotline: DON T accept anti-social behaviour on your bus REPORT IT! 0845 053 0040 Alternatively you can email safertravel@env.lancscc.gov.uk or visit our website WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP GOOD BEHAVIOUR - TAKE IT ON BOARD