The Department for Transport have recently released ‘Annual Bus Statistics 2009/2010′ reporting a decrease in Bus Passenger journeys in England between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 by 0.5%.
Despite still tough times in the workplace and the current recession, passenger journeys in England increased by 0.1% between April – June 2010 and January – March 2010, which is showing slow shows of recovery.
Interestingly in Scotland, the number of bus journeys decreased by 5.2%, whilst in Wales 6.6%. Overall Bus vehicle mileage in England fell by 1.2% between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
Bus fares increased by 0.2% in England, noticeably between March 2009 and March 2010. In 2009/2010, concessionary card holders made up to 34% of all bus journeys compared with 33% in 2008/2009.
In 2009/2010 there were 85,000 PSVs in use in Great Britain, of which 46,900 were buses and 38,900 were coaches and minibuses. There was a 3.9% rise in the number of PCVs in comparison to 2008/2009, but a 0.5% fall in the number of buses.
Provisional estimates suggest that 50.9% of operating revenue for local bus service work came from passenger fares in 2009/2010, compared to 48.9% in 2008/2009. Figures show that net public funding support for local bus services in England fell by 3.1% in real terms between 2008/2009 and 2009/2010.
Taking the bus rather than driving in the car according to new research is a third less stressful.
Dr David Lewis from The University of Sussex found motorists face a hidden mental health impact from the stress and strain of driving, however travelling by bus can produce long term health benefits.
Elements such as ‘road rage‘ and an increase in the heart rate and EDR (Electro-Dermal Response) when driving have proven 33% more when driving compared with travelling passenger on the bus. This type of stress can have long term physiological and emotional implications. Whereas boarding the bus can produce significant long term health benefits.
With more and more cars on the road, CO2 pollution emissions could be cut if more people used the bus to travel, whether it be to work, leisure and studies. Just one double decker bus can take 75 cars off the road and considerably reduce emissions levels in the UK.
With increasing traffic congestion and delays and the sense of frustration of ‘wasting one’s life’ behind the wheel of the car, restricted to casual conversations or listening to the radio. On a bus it is possible to fill the time more fruitfully by doing some work or reading.
Various Green Journey campaigns can encouraging people to get out of their cars and on to the bus for trips where it makes sense – such as shopping in town, heading to a restaurant or pub or going to the movies.
With increasing insurance premiums, rising fuel costs, parking fees and limitations on top of traffic congestion using the bus has never seemed so attractive.
The Department of Transport require a daily walkround check to be carried out by the driver before any PCV is used each day. This is a legal requirement and failure to comply can result in prosecution, points on your licence and possible disqualification.
A thorough Daily Walkround check of a PCV will involve checking the following…
- Excise and operator’s licence
- Entrance/exit doors, emergency exits
- All exterior lights
- Dangerous or protruding body damage
- Access flaps and lockers
- Emergency engine stop
- Wheel nuts and tyres
- Oil and fuel leaks/ filler cap security
- All interior lights
- Fire extinguisher
- Bell pushes and grab rails
- Seats and frames (including driver’s)
- Seat belts (where applicable)
- Floor and staircase covering
- Emergency door buzzers and hammers
- Windscreen, wipers and washers
- Horn and warning buzzers
- Offensive graffiti
- Foot brake/ air leaks pedal rubber
- Excessive exhaust emission
All defects should be reported to the engineering department and where necessary rectified before entering on the road.
Safety is paramount in the transport industry.
London has led the way in Public Transport in the UK with a 100% Low Floor Bus Network in the Capital.
Ideal for all, especially families with buggies, tourists, wheelchair users and children Low Floor Buses were first introduced in 1996 in the Capital. Now in 2010, the whole TfL network is fully Low Floor.
Whether your boarding the standard red Double Deckers, Low Floor Single Deckers or the controversial Bendy Buses in the Capital, people from all backgrounds and ages can enjoy easy access onto the TfL bus network.
There is however still the traditional London Routemasters operating in limited numbers on the ‘heritage routes 9 and 15′ in the Capital. Naturally there are not Low Floor, but equally provide people with the old fashioned open platform which proves very popular with all.
Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators in the UK, who operate for ‘hire and reward‘ i.e. for personal or commercial gain needs to have an O Licence for every vehicle in use on the road.
‘Hire and reward’ includes School runs, bus service routes, Private Hire work, Rail Replacement services and Contract Hire.
The PSV Operator’s Licence is regulated by the Department of Transport and issued by the Traffic Commissioner who are the local licensing authority.
As a PSV Operator you will need to show the Traffic Commissioners you are of good repute, of financial standing and professional competent. You will need a designated PSV CPC Transport Manager in place and a maintenance programme in place for the servicing of your vehicles.
From the 1st January 2010, the financial standing needed by Operators stands at £8,100 for the first vehicle and then £4,500 for each subsequent vehicle on the licence.
Each O Licence issued by the Traffic Commissioners is accountable and must be displayed in the PCV vehicle while in use. The blue disc details the company name, licence number and validity of the O Licence (five year period). VOSA regularly ‘spot check’ vehicles to ensure they are licensed appropriately.
As a PCV Operator, the need for a thorough daily ‘top side check‘ are paramount to ensure the vehicle being taken out on the road is roadworthy.
The onus lies with the first driver taking the vehicle out, they are the one accountable for carrying out the ‘walkaround check‘. With PCV vehicles picking up children, students, OAPs, families, mothers with young babies and disabled people on a regular basis, the need for safety is crucial.
Professional PCV drivers when completing their ‘first use check‘ can get things remedied prior to entering service on the road, be it a bulb out, seat loose, faulty wiper or even a bell push not working.
Many companies I have worked closely with have implemented a good, routine ‘walkaround check’. I’ve seen at first hand drivers take a real pride in ensuring their vehicle is 100% roadworthy which in turn passes onto the passengers.
Also if all drivers adopt a thorough vehicle check, defects on vehicles can be rectified as soon as they arise to ensure a high and continued vehicle standard.
The Department of Transport and VoSA I know share this belief and regularly spot check vehicles to ensure this is happening.
See below a simple and straightforward guide I’ve prepared for some colleagues of mine in the transport industry.
Safe guard yourself and your driving staff, adhere to the rules to keep the right side of the law.
UK Domestic PCV driving hours rules:
- 5h 30mins maximum driving limit without a break
- 30 minute minimum break period away from the PSV vehicle in one working day
- 10 hours maximum driving time per day
- 16 hours maximum length of working day
- 10 hours rest period between working days (can be reduced 3 times in a fixed week to 8h 30min break)
- Must rest 24 hours per fortnight
EC PCV driving rules:
- 4hr 30mins driving without a break
- 45 minute break away from the PCV vehicle (or 15 min break followed by a 30 min break)
- 9hrs maximum driving in one day (can be extended to 10hrs twice in one week)
- 15hrs maximum length of working day
- 11hrs minimum rest period between working days (can be reduced 3 times in a fixed week to 9hours. Must be compensated by the end of the following week)
- 54 hours maximum driving limit per week (90 hours maximum per fortnight)
- Minimum rest period 24 hours for each fixed 2 weeks
The driver ‘Certificate of Professional Competence’ qualification in the UK has been around for a couple of years now. All ‘new’ drivers into the industry from the 10th September 2008 need to pass their Driver CPC before driving on the road. All existing PCV holders from the 10th September 2009 need to participate in the Driver CPC qualification, as set out in the Driver CPC EU Directive 2003.
The whole purpose of the Driver CPC is to improve the knowledge and skills of PCV drivers throughout the life of their driving career. The aim is to improve road safety and reduce accidents through better qualified drivers.
Additionally the Driver CPC is designed to help passenger transport as a whole, by working towards better staff performance, staff recruitment and staff retention. Working hand in hand with this is the desire to improve and maintain the skills of professional drivers.
Many big transport companies are choosing to train drivers on a one day per year session, so over a five year period they generate the 35 hours of training needed in the 7 hour sessions. This seems a good idea, especially when organising drivers for training, training staff availability and costs on a ‘rolling road’ basis.
However the smaller operators are generally opting for the five-day week intensive course available for Driver CPC which fulfills the EU rules and regulations and gives companies a head start.
By the 9th September 2013, whether you are a new or existing PCV driver you will need to have achieved the Driver CPC Qualification.
The Driver CPC can only be a good thing, especially in bringing an improved positive image to the transport industry. This should support the reputation of professional drivers and build on the confidence the public have and other road users have in them.
Drivers as well will feel a true sense of professionalism in achieving an EU backed qualification and enhance their existing experience and skills in the transport industry.
Many transport companies have adopted the new ‘Greener and Cleaner’ ECO system on vehicles to improve fuel economy. The ECO concept is a fuel management system which assists drivers in getting the most economical drive from the vehicle they are driving.
On the dashboard of ECO modified vehicles is a LED light indicator. Based on the revs and braking of the driver, the LED unit displays green, amber and red readings whilst in motion. The idea is to keep the LED lights in the green as much as possible. Driving in the green means the vehicle is using less fuel.
Understandably when pulling away from road junctions, roundabouts and traffic lights whilst also going uphill the LED light unit will often be in the red. Driving in the red means the vehicle is using maximum fuel.
Ultimately transport companies and drivers can reduce environmental pollution, improve fuel consumption and enhance road safety skills.
Through pro-active driving, avoiding over revving and unnecessary braking and stopping ECO driving can be achieved. Operator awareness and educating drivers how to drive ECO is the key to saving fuel and reducing CO2 emissions.
An increasing number of transport companies nationally, especially in London have installed the ECO fuel system and are experiencing better levels of fuel economy.
With the increasing levels of traffic and pollution, the ECO concept gives operators and drivers alike a means of reducing their carbon footprint to reducing global warming in the long run.
