Have you carried out statutory safety checks
before driving a minibus?
Unfortunately many drivers feel that a safety check is something that’s left to someone else, claiming… “I’m just the driver, I have no mechanical knowledge and someone else looks after the minibus anyway.” tends to be a popular excuse.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. Sadly, most drivers don’t actually realise that not only are they under a legal obligation, but also just how important the obligation of ensuring that the minibus is kept in a safe and roadworthy condition really is.
The very nature of a motor vehicle means that from time to time parts will wear out, need repairing or replacing during its lifetime. However, no one can ever predict just how long tyres, brake pads or bulbs will actually last. Therefore, it’s essential that regular checks are made in order to monitor and report any defects or evidence of deterioration.
Walk-round checks
A driver’s obligation involves a daily ‘walk round’ check by each individual driver each time a minibus is driven. This initial inspection involves checking listed items and ensuring they are in a safe, working and legal order. Any minibus defects found should be recorded in writing and reported to the person responsible for the maintenance or operation of the minibus.
On no account should a driver attempt to drive a minibus with defects that would affect the safety of the driver, passengers and other road users or breaches roadworthiness regulations.
Just a simple observation of noticing and reporting a puddle of oil on the ground underneath the engine would indicate a serious problem which would later save replacing an entire engine. However, without these checks and preventive maintenance, the alternative could cost thousands of £’s.
Your vital link could prevent a death
Suppose a driver failed to notice an illegally worn tyre and was later stopped by a VOSA roadside inspector. Driving with an illegally worn tyre comes with a fine of up to £5,000 and 3 penalty points on the drivers’ licence, and that’s for “each tyre”. So just imagine, if through your failure to carry out just a simple check you failed to notice 4 illegally worn tyres?
Could you afford to waste all that money in fines in addition to loosing your licence? …or even worse killing a small child because you couldn’t properly control the minibus in an emergency!
The driver is therefore a vital link within the maintenance process, for without this driver obligation, any developing or dangerous defects would simply go unnoticed jeopardising minibus road safety with disastrous consequences.
Next: How do you know if your minibus is in a safe and roadworthy condition?
Minibus “Safety-check” reference guide:
- A Safety Check worth remembering
- Regulations and responsibilities of driving or operating a minibus
- Statutory safety checks before driving a minibus
- Operating your minibus is in a safe and roadworthy condition?
- Are you physically fit to drive a minibus?
- The “Good Practice” course of action
- Can I legally drive a Minibus?
- Adding a new PCV category to your licence
- Operator Licencing
- PSV 437 Operator Licencing
(opens new window) - PSV 385 Minibus operating for voluntary groups (opens new window)
- Safe Operators guide (opens new window)
- Drivers’ Hours & Tachograph regulations (opens new window)
- VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency)
- Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness ( opens new window)
- Minibus Walkaround Check Poster
(opens new window) - INDG 382 Health & Safety, Driving at work (opens new window)
- Minibus Road Safety Training
