Bus safety rules | Buses Safety

                                BUSES SAFETY RULES

Buses safety rules 

 

BUSES SAFETY

VERIFICATION OF BUSES SAFETY, REVERSE PARKING, SPEED LIMITS AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

THE BUSES SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH:

·       Inspected First aid kit

·       At least two high visibility vests

·       Fire extinguishers at least four fire extinguishers.

·       Spare tires of the same make and brand as supplied by the manufacturer company.

·       Basic repair equipment in case of a breakdown of the bus.

·       Seat belt cutter

·       Glass breaker or emergency exit hammers at or near emergency windows in the buses.

The ensure passenger access doors shall be curbside of the bus.

High-mounted brake and turn signal lights in conditions of restricted visibility or bad weather e.g. dust, sand, rain, and fog.

All buses shall undergo a yearly detailed vehicle safety inspection to ensure the vehicle meets the established minimum safety standards.

Ensure walkways and exits shall remain clear of obstacles, including loose floor mats and carpets in the buses.

VERIFICATION OF BUSES SAFETY

The following shall be conducted to ensure the vehicle is safe for use.

Driver/Operator Inspections

Daily operator inspection shall be carried out before the vehicle is used. The inspection shall be carried out by the driver operator using a suitable checklist as per standards. Ensure as a minimum, the items covered in the checklist. Daily checks or inspections are vital and personnel shall be encouraged and trained to carry them out thoroughly while driving. Observed by the driver during his period of duty shall be recorded.

·       Professional trained and experienced drivers /operators shall apply professional judgment to decide whether a vehicle is roadworthy. The condition of an item is borderline, the determining factor will be the extent to which the item will deteriorate before the vehicle is likely to be inspected.

·       Roadworthy vehicles shall be removed or terminated from service immediately.

·       Where practicable, vehicles shall be cleaned regularly on top, inside, and underneath. This will make it easier to spot defects during inspections and scheduled safety inspections as per standards.

·       First-use Inspections of drivers

·       First use inspections are essential for drivers/operators who hire, lease or borrow vehicles.

·       The inspection should follow the pattern of the daily check described.

Regular Maintenance

All vehicles or buses shall be subject to a regular road-worthiness inspection. The regular inspection shall be fixed taking into account Transport Department regulatory requirements, manufacturer's recommendation, vehicle age, service history, distance traveled, and operating conditions of buses.

Effective maintenance program shall include:

·       The setting of appropriate maintenance as per standards

·       Establishment of schedules for inspection and testing of buses

·       Ensuring checklists cover all safety-related items for bus inspection.

·       Availability of qualified and equipped staff with efficient working facilities to adequately inspect and maintain vehicles or buses.

·       An adequate supply of spare parts for buses

·       An effective system for drivers to report defective items

·       A procedure for vehicles to be taken out of service, until critical defects are rectified or identified.

·       Ready access for drivers to maintenance, inspection, and current defect status reports.

·       The detailed instruction and repair procedures for vehicles that are involved in vehicle incidents.

REVERSE PARKING

Buses reversed parked to enable quick escape in the event of an emergency, this requirement is not mandatory.

·       Parked in marked assigned spaces only buses

·       Avoid parking in spaces that are reserved for specialist other vehicles.

·       Not block other vehicle's access

·       Sound the horn before you start to revers of buses

·       Back slowly with reverse alarm.

SPEED LIMITS

Bus speed limits are used to set the legal maximum or minimum speed at which road vehicles may travel on a stretch of road. To improve road traffic safety and reduce the number of casualties from traffic collisions or accidents.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

In case of adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind, and fog may impair road visibility and negatively impact the ability of drivers to safely control their vehicles or buses.

In case of adverse weather conditions, shall notify their relevant or concerned personnel via email and SMS about the adverse weather. The driver or personnel shall take additional safety precautions on the road during adverse weather conditions. If unavoidable, personnel are cautioned to take extreme care to ensure the safety of everyone on board of personnel. Personnel shall also notify their supervisor's control room in case of late arrival indicating the reason for weather conditions.

1.       FOG

Heavy fog is one of the most dangerous driving hazards on the road. There are a few steps that can be taken to reduce the risk when driving in fog on the roads:

When entering the fog, check mirrors, then slow down the vehicles or buses.

Ensure to allow more distance between vehicles. Instead of the normal 5-second, time gap behind the vehicle in front increase the time gap to 5 seconds, never rush or speed to get out of the fog during driving.

Ensure to use caution at all times due to fog. The moisture in the air may continuously collect on the windscreen, making it more difficult to see or clear. Adjust the defroster and windscreen wiper speed as necessary.

Ensure to use fog lights or driving lights. Many vehicles have factory- manufacturer-installed fog or driving lights in the buses.

These lights used are usually mounted low, in, or below the front bumper.

During fog use headlights on low beams. The visibility or clarity in front will sharply decrease in fog, so use the vehicle's low beam lights. Ensure do not use high beam headlights in heavy fog conditions as the light from high beam headlights will be reflected by the thick fog.

Do not use hazard lights to improve vehicle visibility

If visibility falls or lows below 100m, the journey shall not start until visibility improves. The journey has already begun, the driver shall pull to a safe location and stop driving until visibility improves on the roads.

Where applicable, visibility boards shall be fixed in place 100m from all exits of premises to allow the drivers to confirm that they can see 100 m of clear visibility.

2.       RAIN

The rainfall is irregular and generally does not last for a long period, with most of it occurring during the winter season and other seasons. The rain reduces visibility or is clear and causes the road surface to be slippery, therefore making it easier for drivers to lose control of their vehicles.

Guidelines on how to lower risks when driving in rain are as follows:

Slow down at the first sign of rain, or drizzle on the road and turn on the headlights and avoid any sudden acceleration, harsh braking, or making sudden turns of buses or vehicles.

Turn on the windshield wipers and increase the distance between vehicles to other vehicles.

3.       Wind, Dust

Strong winds or sand storms generally reduce your steering control. In case of the wind may blow up sand from outside as well and may impact visibility. The best defensive driving technique for windy conditions is to drive at lower speeds or if the wind is too strong, safely pull over until winds subside from outside.

The drivers shall also be careful of any build-up of sand on the road. If drivers are driving too fast on a road the vehicle tires can easily lose traction with the road, leading to skids and loss of control of the vehicle or buses.

4.       Hot Weather

When driving in hot weather, the heat has an impact on both the driver and the vehicle or bus. The driver shall keep an eye on the warning lights and gauges, especially the temperature gauge of buses. Due to the hot temperature, drivers may be fatigued faster than normal therefore drivers shall keep their vehicle well ventilated.