For minibus drivers, safety is paramount. Especially for the ones who have the responsibility of transporting children. The minibuses are extremely important for schools and families as they are very affordable when it comes to a school trip or a sports event in another county. It doesn’t matter whether you own the minibus outright or have one on a contract from a minibus hire company, being the operator of the vehicle, your school will be responsible for its good condition and roadworthiness.
Vehicle maintenance requires planning and a definite checklist to follow in order to keep them up to date. This post is an overview of the key elements from the vehicle maintenance checklist, so let’s have a look and make our school vehicles risk free.
Appoint a responsible person:
The first step is to decide on a responsible person who will ensure all the vehicles are maintained properly. Many times school/colleges take on a minibus operation assuming the vehicle is correctly maintained and run but without a supervision, things can go wrong. There are many things that require proper attention and systems need to appoint someone for this. It doesn’t mean you will hire a new member on your team, but someone has to take the responsibility.
Perform daily vehicle checks:
School minibuses are used frequently, hence it is essential to carry out a daily inspection of the vehicles. It doesn’t mean to be thorough but a basic preventative vehicle maintenance must be carried out every day. Apart from any major consideration, the individual drivers must check the condition of certain items like seatbelts, brakes, Fluid levels, tyres and emergency supplies of the vehicle before they set the minibus on road.
Detailed weekly checks:
WIth these daily checks, a rigorous check must be carried out on a weekly basis. This weekly checkup is essential when the same minibus is driven by multiple drivers. This weekly maintenance can include the inspection of interiors, lights, windows, number plates, first aid kit and fire extinguishers.
Staff and driver training:
All the planning and equipment training is not fruitful if it is not carried by well-trained staff and drivers. They need to be properly trained in order to implement your minibus maintenance system effectively.
The consequences of failing to maintain a vehicle can be very inconvenient and sometimes very serious. Unexpected delays are common but it can also result in serious injury or a fatal accident. So take proper care of your school vehicle as it is the matter of your student’s safety.
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