If you drive for a living, whether it’s a commercial bus or a smaller passenger transport vehicle, you face more risks than the average driver. You’re not just responsible for your own safety, but for your passengers, your employees, and other drivers on the road.
You’re also typically driving larger, heavier vehicles that are less maneuverable and slower to brake than regular vehicles. Add in factors such as unpredictable weather, heavy traffic, and vehicle malfunctions, and those risks are compounded.
A collision, breakdown, or other mishap could seriously disrupt your ability to do your job or run your business. Following these risk mitigation procedures, along with customizing your passenger transport insurance, can go a long way in helping protect your bottom line and your reputation.
Common commercial bus driver risks
Commercial buses and vehicles are larger and heavier than many other vehicles on the road. That means they have more blind zones, take longer to slow down, and require judgment when making left turns across traffic. That, in turn, makes them vulnerable to rear-end collisions and lane-change collisions.
Bad weather, like heavy rain, fog, ice, snow, or wind, adds to a driver’s cognitive load and reduces their ability to control the vehicle. Failing to adapt driving behaviour to these conditions could increase the probability of a collision, especially on wet or icy surfaces. Large, heavy vehicles also might not have enough traction to make sudden maneuvers to avoid a pedestrian or cyclist in a blind spot.
If you regularly shuttle passengers, you’re also more exposed to liability issues. For example, you could be held liable if you have to brake, swerve, or accelerate quickly, which could cause injuries to passengers (such as whiplash). This is particularly a concern in buses that don’t have seatbelts or airbags.
If you own a passenger transport service, you could also face issues from employees and passengers. For example, say you own a fleet of limos. You’re still generally responsible for employee negligence if they’re operating on behalf of your business. And, if passengers let loose in one of your limos on the way to a wedding or graduation, damaging the interior, it could leave you on the hook for damages.
Vehicle maintenance failures could also result in safety hazards. A failure while driving, such as a loss of braking power, could cause an accident or collision. Deterioration over time can also be cause for concern, as eventually that deterioration could lead to a critical failure.
Best practices to combat commercial bus driver risks
As a starting point, it’s critical to hire qualified drivers and provide appropriate training, with refreshers recommended every year or two. Drivers should also demonstrate a strong understanding of collision prevention strategies, such as how to plan for wide turns and how to check blind spots before making any moves in traffic.
On the road, they should maintain appropriate following distances, which is determined by the vehicle’s size and weight, as well as speed and driving conditions. For example, they should reduce speed in wet or icy conditions and during dense fog or heavy winds. They should also use winter-rated tires in winter (potentially using chains in regions that receive a lot of ice and packed snow).
Some fleets use in-vehicle advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to monitor drivers and enhance safety (protecting them from both driver error and circumstances beyond their control). There are four main types of ADAS systems: braking, steering, warning, and monitoring. These systems can help by alerting drivers to impending danger in a blind spot or helping them maintain a safe distance between other vehicles.
It’s also important to combine scheduled maintenance, based on manufacturer recommendations, with your own servicing assessment based on operating conditions. This involves pre-trip inspections and daily checks of critical safety systems. These inspections should be recorded to help track maintenance history and identify any recurring problems.
What kind of insurance do passenger transport service providers need?
Even your top drivers will face risks on (and off) the road. While a commercial general liability (CGL) policy can help cover legal costs if a passenger transport service you provide leads to bodily injury or property damage to a third party, there are other key coverages to consider.
For example, commercial auto insurance protects your vehicles when you’re not behind the wheel. It can also help cover injuries to drivers and passengers, costs for a replacement vehicle, and even lost wages that result from a covered accident.
If you use mobile payments apps, dispatch or GPS, cyber insurance can help cover costs related to cyber liability risks. And, if your vehicles are out of commission due to a covered loss, business interruption insurance can help you cover the bills until your business is operational again.
If your business hits a bump, passenger transport insurance can help you stay on track. You may also want to consider a professional audit of your vehicle safety and inspection routines to uncover any inherent risks and determine appropriate risk control measures — so you can keep driving your business forward.
Protect yourself today with passenger transport insurance
Despite your best efforts to combat risks while on the road, things can still go wrong. That’s where the appropriate insurance coverage comes in. With the right insurance, if your passenger transport business should suffer a loss, you’re prepared. Visit our Passenger Transport Services Insurance Page to find out more today!