Bus equipment and emergencies

A bus is built so that many people can leave it quickly if something happens. As the driver you must know the equipment in the particular bus you are driving: where the fire extinguisher is, how the emergency opening of the doors works and where the emergency exits are. In an emergency there is no time to search.

Fire extinguisher

When a bus is in use, it must have a working fire extinguisher (brandsläckare) on each deck (TSFS 2016:22 3 kap. 2 §). So a double-decker must have two. The fire extinguisher must:

• be easily accessible in the passenger compartment,
• be marked with a sign if it is not clearly visible,
• be checked according to the manufacturer's instructions,
• be sealed.

The construction rules for buses (UN/ECE Regulation No 107 (FN/ECE-reglemente nr 107), paragraph 7.5.4.1) also require that one of the fire extinguishers can be placed near the driver's seat.

First aid kit

There must be space for one or more first aid kits (första förbandslådor) (paragraph 7.5.4.2). Both fire extinguishers and first aid kits may be locked away to protect them from theft, but only if the location is clearly marked and they can be quickly retrieved in an emergency (paragraph 7.5.4.3).

Emergency exits and doors

A bus must have at least two doors: either two service doors or one service door and one emergency door (paragraph 7.6.1.1).

An emergency exit (nödutgång) can be (paragraph 2.12):

• an emergency door (nödutgångsdörr),
• an emergency window (nödutgångsfönster),
• an escape hatch (utrymningslucka), that is an opening in the roof or floor that is only used in an emergency (paragraph 2.11).

Power-operated service doors have an emergency opening device (nödöppning) that allows them to be opened from inside when the bus is stationary. The emergency controls must be clearly marked. Learn where they are in every bus you drive, as their location differs between models.

Starting interlock and kneeling

The starting interlock (startspärr) (called a bus-stop brake, hållplatsbroms, in the Swedish text of the bus regulations) prevents the bus from being driven off from standstill if a door is not fully closed (paragraph 2.27).

The kneeling system (nigningssystem) lowers and raises all or part of the bus in relation to its normal driving position (paragraph 2.31). This makes it easier to get on at the stop, for example for people with a rollator or a pushchair.

The braking systems

A heavy bus has several braking systems that you must understand:

• The service brake (färdbromsen) is the ordinary brake you use with the brake pedal.
• The secondary braking system (reservbromssystemet) must make it possible to stop the bus within a reasonable distance if the service brake stops working.
• The endurance braking system (tillsatsbromsen), for example a retarder, is an additional braking system that can provide braking effect over a long period (UN/ECE Regulation No 13 (FN/ECE-reglemente nr 13), paragraph 2.15).
• The parking brake (parkeringsbromsen) keeps the bus still when it is stationary.

On a long downhill slope with a full bus, you should control your speed with the endurance brake and save the service brake. If you brake for a long time with the service brake alone, it gets hot and can lose its effect. You need it when you have to stop quickly.

Most buses have air brakes. If the low pressure warning comes on while driving, it means that the energy in some part of the braking system has dropped so much that braking performance may become insufficient. Stop at a safe place and deal with the fault before driving on.

Winter tyres

A heavy bus and a trailer towed by it must have winter tyres (vinterdäck) or equivalent equipment during the period 10 November–10 April, regardless of road conditions (Traffic Ordinance (trafikförordningen) 4 kap. 18 b §). A light bus needs winter tyres 1 December–31 March when there are winter road conditions (18 a §). The tyres on a heavy bus must have a tread depth of at least 5 mm during the winter period, and studded and non-studded tyres may not be mixed on the same axle.

Check before driving

The driving test includes a safety check, but the check should be a habit every day. For a bus it includes, among other things:

• lights, direction indicators, reflectors and horn,
• wipers and washers, mirrors and windows,
• steering, brakes, tyres, wheel rims and wheel nuts,
• fluid levels and warning systems,
• automatic doors and emergency exits,
• safety equipment and the tachograph (färdskrivare).

If a fire starts

A fire on a bus can spread quickly, and smoke can fill the passenger compartment in a short time. If smoke starts coming from the engine compartment or anywhere else, the passengers' safety comes first:

1. Stop at a safe place as soon as possible, and switch off the engine.
2. Open the doors and ask everyone to leave the bus calmly and quickly.
3. Call 112.
4. Help passengers who need support to get out, and lead them away from the bus and the road.
5. Only try to put out the fire with the extinguisher if the fire is small and you do not put yourself in danger.

In a road traffic crash

Anyone who has been involved in a road traffic crash, whether or not it was their fault, may not leave the scene without stopping, helping as far as they can and giving their name and address. Anyone who does so can be convicted of leaving the scene of an accident (smitning) (lag 1951:649 om straff för vissa trafikbrott 5 §). This applies even if you have only touched a parked car with the rear corner of the bus and think it was not your fault.

In a crash with passengers on board:

• Warn other traffic and protect the scene so that no further crashes happen.
• Call 112.
• Look after the passengers. If the bus is standing in a dangerous place or there is a risk of fire, let them leave the bus and gather them in a safe place some distance from the road.
• Give first aid as far as you can.

Remember

• The bus must have a working, sealed fire extinguisher on each deck, easily accessible in the passenger compartment.
• It must be possible to place a fire extinguisher near the driver's seat.
• Emergency exits can be doors, windows or hatches in the roof or floor.
• Learn where the emergency opening for the doors is in every bus you drive.
• The starting interlock prevents moving off with a door open, but does not sense people outside.
• Use the endurance brake on long downhill slopes and save the service brake.
• Heavy bus: winter tyres 10 November–10 April regardless of road conditions.
• In a fire: stop, open the doors, get everyone out and call 112.