Left the coach for 10 mins at the services and when I got back..............

[Victor Meldrew]

As I said, I stopped at the motorway services for a break.

Took the key out and switched the master switch off. Quite a few of the passengers stayed on since they were not the sort to have money to pay motorway prices.

When I came back there was a 10 year old sitting in the driving seat doing a good imitation of a driver. He was fiddling with the gear stick, twisting the wheel, punching in numbers on the mobile and trying to release the parking brake. Luckily it was an older coach and the parking brake requires a good pull to get it free.

I explained to him the error of his ways.

Now, the thing is, if he had managed to release the parking brake and this resulted in damage to the coach and surroundings, or even worse a few passing old grannies, who would be to blame?

The driver for leaving the coach unattended with passengers still on board?

The parents for not supervising their child correctly?

Anybody got the answer?

Victor.

[Matt]

Tough call!

I never leave passengers on the coach unattended. I do feel guilty about chucking them off but after all if im away from my coach i see it that im on a leagal break.

The parents would have had a right rollocking off me for letting him pratt about in the cab. Ill always let kids sit in the cab and play with the controls if it makes them happy.

I recon our boss would have taken a dim view:surrender:

[John Williamson]

If there's a courier working with me, they get the option to stay on board while I take break in the services, otherwise I politely ask all passengers to leave the vehicle.

Of course, on occasion, I have come back to find the courier missing..... :-/

Two reasons:-
First, safety and security. A lot of people have valuable gear they leave on board, such as cameras, and I have had a coach entered by thieves before now. There's also nobody to advise them what to do should an emergency arise.

Second, the police and VOSA officially assume that if there are passengers on the vehicle, you are still responsible for their safety, so you can't be taking a legal break, and I've heard of drivers being done for not taking a break under these circumstances.

I find I don't have many problems if I politely explain this *before* we stop.

Tciao for Now!

John.

[coachdriverjed]

If there's a courier working with me, they get the option to stay on board while I take break in the services, otherwise I politely ask all passengers to leave the vehicle.

Of course, on occasion, I have come back to find the courier missing..... :-/
John.

if i was a courier i would be having a break aswell and would not be sitting with the coach just for the driver to get a break

ive left people on the coach before when ive gone to have a brak but usually i chuck everyone off as i leave my stuff in including my laptop so not having anything nicked, had things nicked before now!!

[Andy]

Nope I explain the situation as well, and politley ask them all to leave the coach and lock up.

My stuff is in it as well and the drivers gear would be the first to go as its at the front, when passengers do stay on would they be prepared to intervene if they did notice anything untoward? or would they recognise everybody who is supposed to be on the coach?

[alan mcculloch]

You wonder at the level of intelligence of the brats parents and the compacecy of the othe idiots sitting on your coach.The potential for disaster was huge.

[John Williamson]

if i was a courier i would be having a break aswell and would not be sitting with the coach just for the driver to get a break

ive left people on the coach before when ive gone to have a brak but usually i chuck everyone off as i leave my stuff in including my laptop so not having anything nicked, had things nicked before now!!
If I'm working with a courier, mostly it is at their request that I leave the vehicle unlocked. I'm just making it firmly, but politely clear that if I leave the vehicle unsecured at their request, they are taking full responsibility for whatever happens.

If they disappear while I'm away, they don't get asked again, the vehicle is emptied and locked, and not opened until I have had my full legal break, counting from the moment I lock it. If the courier complains and insists on it being left open or with passengers on board, I wait until the courier gets back, then take my full break away from the vehicle.

They never need reminding again, but it very rarely comes to that.

Tciao for Now!

John.

[Victor Meldrew]

Thanks for all your advice guys.

It looks as if I need to smarten up my act a bit and get them off the coach at every stop.

That was untill yesterday when I was loading up in the centre of town at 9 AM for a trip to Llandudno.

I was doing my bit at the door and puting the strollers, zimmer frames and the like in the boot as they got on. When I followed the last one on there was this fella sitting in my seat! Now I had loaded M&S pensioners and he certainly didn't look anything like them on age, colour or clothing. The organiser was quite happy for him to be there as well.

He said he was going to Llandudno. I explained that he was NOT and he should exit sharpish which to my relief he did.

At least he wasn't fiddling with the controls, which was fortunate since I had left the keys in the ignition and the engine running.

I suppose I need to improve my act when loading as well.

Now I can see the advantage that the miserable driver has when he never gets out of his seat as the passengers get off and on.

Victor.

[thedupleman]

i kick em all off all the time.
these pensioners half the time have no thought that you want some free time they just wanna sit on the coach and not move.im sure the vosa officers would possibly take a dim view of it anyway and its a bad idea to leave the coach unlocked whoever is on.make a habit of putting them off tell them its the law or whatever.but dont ever leave your coach unlocked cos the day summat goes missing all hell will be to pay.can you imagine if the brat had let the handbrake off-who's fault would it have been? you can bet your bottom dollar you'd be mention somewhere