Fatigue and Bus and Coach Driving

Employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that drivers are fit to drive under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Management of Health & Safety Regulations 1999, which state that employers must carry out risk assessments for all significant activities of their employees and other people who may be affected by their work activities.

Is it ‘reasonably foreseeable’ that a driver might become tired whilst driving a bus or coach? The answer must be ‘YES’. Whilst any responsible driver would not knowingly come to work too tired to drive, there is a lack of knowledge at all levels of the bus and coach industry, with drivers, supervisors and managers not fully understanding the effects of fatigue.

Whilst drivers hours and tachographs are designed to reduce the risk of drivers becoming tired through working long hours , they do not guarantee that drivers cannot become fatigued. Other issues, such as sleep related disorders are also raised in the booklet, along with the effects of alcohol and drugs, including ‘Over the counter’ medicines which may also cause impairment to driving and are now far more available directly off supermarket shelves.

There have been a number of high profile bus and coach accidents involving ‘tired  drivers’  which has caused the deaths of several passengers and in one case directly lead to the closure of a coach business.

The booklet is also ideal for use as part of driver CPC training- one of the syllabus subjects is 2.3.4 ‘awareness of the importance of physical and mental ability’.

Minimise Your Risk, in association with ‘Scriptographic’ publications, has produced a new fatigue awareness booklet for bus and coach drivers. This easy to read booklet has been awarded the ‘Crystal mark’ for clarity from the Plain English Campaign. There is also a ‘Quiz’ at the rear of the booklet which is perforated for removal after completion of training which can be kept on a driver’s staff file as signed evidence of training and understanding.