Safety Tips for Bus Drivers

Buses are an integral part of most public transportation systems. People rely on buses to get to and from work, school, and for essential errands like grocery shopping and pharmacy visits.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority alone operates more than 2,400 buses – the second largest bus fleet in North America. Bus drivers are essential to how our city works, which is why they need to take safety measures to ensure both their safety and the safety of their passengers. Below are safety tips for bus drivers and passenger safety:

Personal Safety Tips for Bus Drivers

• Inspect the vehicle before starting your route. The first safety measure that all bus drivers should take is to make sure that the bus itself is in good working order. Test everything before leaving the lot to make sure that nothing will go wrong on the road.
• Don’t get distracted by passengers. Remember that driving is your number one priority. Don’t let loud conversations, music, or other antics distract you from driving safely and responsibly.
• Buckle Up. It is tempting to take after passengers and ride without a seatbelt, but as the driver, you will be on the bus and the road all day long. Always wear your belt to ensure personal safety.

Safety Tips to Keep Passengers Safe

• Come to a stop slowly. Do not rush to a bus stop and hit the breaks with care. If you rush into a stop, you risk harming passengers who are waiting in the road improperly.
• Only use the wheelchair lifts for disabled passengers. These lifts are large, heavy, and dangerous. They should be used when the passenger requires it.
• Always signal and obey traffic laws. The best way to avoid an accident is to obey every traffic law and to drive defensively.

Buses are public transportation, which means that everyone riding and operating them are mutually responsible for maintaining a safe environment. If everyone works together, everyone can get where they need to be efficiently and safely.