What excuse are you going to use?
A problem built up over the years
You can be forgiven for admitting the fact that you find the world of minibus driving and operating a bit confusing. You're not alone as many others feel the same too.
For many years, we have been allowed to drive minibuses on our car licences, but during this time we have also seen conditions change, new laws introduced and a host health and safety responsibilities flood our workloads.
Volunteer assessors 'v' qualified instructors
Industry disputes have also arisen between professionally qualified instructors and volunteer assessor trainers armed with just a car licence over who can and cannot offer minibus training. However, despite verification from the DVLA many unqualified assessor trainers are still training and observing minibus drivers.
Whilst these disputes continue, unqualified car instructors are dealt in a completely different manor, as when they are caught by the DSA and the Police, evidence is collected and passed on to the CPS for prosecution where hefty fines and custodial sentences are given to offenders.
Double standards and 'grey areas'
Whist these double standards exist, combined with the unfortunate-accustomed misconceptions, myths and misunderstandings, the minibus will remain the most complicated vehicle licence category to understand. Therefore, is it any wonder that many use the excuse 'it's a grey area?'
However, in reality when you drive a minibus the same laws, regulations and responsibilities, apart from a few minor derogations, relate to you as they do to any other professional bus and coach driver.
Regardless of whether it's fair or not, ignorance is no defence in law
Consequently, in an event of an accident involving your minibus, the Police & VOSA will still investigate to establish who was to blame and pass this evidence to the CPS in the same way they would normally for a commercial vehicle incident, regardless of whether you feel it was fair or not.
As many aspects of driving or operating a minibus are greatly perceived as a grey-areas' and remembering that ignorance is no defence in law, are you going to protect yourself and follow the rules with the help from professional training?
Minibus Road Safety reference guide
- A problem built up over the years
- Minibus Road Safety (1 day ‘in class’ knowledge based training)
- Minibus Knowledge of Passenger Safety
- Minibus Road Safety (2 hour ‘on- road’ driving assessment)
- True Stories – Don’t let this happen to you
- Health & Safety and Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR)
- Minibus Road Safety Challenge
