How Can We Improve Safety on Employee Buses? Seeking Advice from Experienced Peers

Dear Sirs,

Our company operates nearly 10 contracted buses daily to pick up and drop off employees from various locations. We have faced significant challenges in the past two consecutive months.

I now wish to prioritize safety on the buses that transport workers to and from the workplace. Your guidance as experienced seniors would be greatly appreciated.

Please help me.

Regards,
SSM

Hi SSM,

Few things you can try to prevent the reoccurrence of such issues:

Training - Have the drivers contracted to your company undergone any training for defensive driving? If not, you need to look into it urgently.

Speak Up - Encourage passengers to speak up when they feel the driver's behavior is unsafe. Having a passenger feedback book available in the vehicle will serve this purpose.

Management Commitment - Management commitment is essential to ensure passenger safety. Provide training, enforce it, and take disciplinary actions when deviations occur.

In-Vehicle Monitoring System - This will be an added benefit.

Thanks,
Sam

Get in touch with your friends/ex-colleagues from other companies to find out the names of contract bus service providers they are using for their company. Determine their reliability. Networking contacts can help mitigate such issues to a great extent. Consider seeking references.

Regards,
Babu

In this case, you should conduct training on "Behavioral Safety" for your drivers. It is psychological but very useful.

Regards,
[AZHAGESAN.P]

[Executive-Employee Welfare, UAE]

Attached financial penalties to the performance of the drivers might help as the transport company management will also keep a close eye. Please instruct all of your employees NOT to engage in arguments or fights with drivers if they find that the driver is driving harshly. Employees can leave the vehicle and can go or come on their own, but they must not argue with drivers on the road.

-Ketan
IT_Group

Attached financial penalties should be associated with the performance of the drivers. This measure might be beneficial, as the transport company's management will also be able to closely monitor the situation.

Please instruct all employees not to engage in arguments or fights with drivers if they find that the driver is driving aggressively. Employees are encouraged to exit the vehicle and make alternative arrangements for transportation, but they should avoid confrontations with drivers on the road.

-Ketan
IT_Group

Dear SSM,

Please find attached the defensive driving presentation for providing training to the drivers. Find out faults/requirements from the drivers:

1. Lack of interest in the job due to long working hours, low salary, lack of timely food, tea, etc. First, try to make them feel like responsible employees.
2. If a driver's age is young, please engage older drivers who are not interested in picking up unauthorized passengers or driving long distances.
3. Ensure induction for any new drivers hired.
4. Based on observation, retain good drivers and remove others from the job after giving notice.
Consider various options to enhance the safety of employees.

Thank you.