Passenger safety and seat belts

Passengers on a bus trust the driver to get them to their destination safely. They cannot influence how the bus is driven themselves, and standing passengers have poor protection if the bus brakes hard. As a bus driver you therefore have two tasks: to make sure the seat belt rules are followed and to drive so smoothly and with such anticipation that no one is injured.

Compulsory seat belts on buses

Everyone over the age of three travelling on a bus that has seat belts must sit in a seat with a seat belt (bilbälte), if one is available, and wear the belt (Traffic Ordinance (trafikförordningen) 4 kap. 10 a §).

If there are special child restraints on the bus for children under three, they should be used.

There are a few exceptions:

• Local transport in built-up areas. On local transport in a built-up area (tättbebyggt område), passengers may sit in a seat without a belt, even if there are free belted seats.
• When the bus is stationary or reversing, the belt does not need to be worn.
• Within certain areas, for example in a car park, a multi-storey car park or on a petrol station or workshop forecourt (4 kap. 10 d §).

Standing passengers

If no seat with a seat belt is available, it is permitted to stand on the bus, but only if the bus is approved for standing passengers. Remember that this affects your speed. A heavy bus may only be driven at 100 km/h if everyone over the age of three has access to a seat with a seat belt. If anyone is standing, a maximum of 90 km/h applies.

Who is responsible for what?

Responsibility for wearing the seat belt lies with the passenger themselves. If an adult passenger refuses to put on the seat belt even though you have informed them, it is the passenger who is breaking the rule.

For children under 15 the responsibility is greater. The driver, other on-board staff, escorts and the person leading a group must take suitable measures so that passengers under 15 wear a seat belt or other restraint (4 kap. 10 c §). So if you see on a school trip that a twelve-year-old has taken off their seat belt, you must act. The same people must also help passengers in wheelchairs to secure the wheelchair.

The duty to inform

Bus passengers must be informed that they must wear a seat belt during the journey. The information requirement applies to all bus services and has two parts:

• announcements or pre-recorded messages, and
• stickers that must be visible in the bus.

The information can be given by the bus driver, other on-board staff, an escort or the person appointed as leader of a group.

On private hire services (beställningstrafik) and on regular services with few stops (linjetrafik med få stopp) there is an extended requirement. The information must be repeated after every stop where new passengers get on.

No getting on or off while moving

When a vehicle is moving, no one may get on or off. Nor may anyone ride on a step or similar that is not specially designed for it (trafikförordningen 3 kap. 3 §). If a passenger asks to jump off while the bus is slowly rolling in towards the stop, you must say no.

Drive with your passengers in mind

The syllabus for the bus licence requires you to adapt your speed, road position and other driving to the passengers' safety and comfort (TSFS 2011:24 3 kap. 2 §). In the driving test, one of the things assessed is that you can drive the bus without abnormal jerks and sway when changing lanes and turning (TSFS 2012:48 23 §).

Some basic rules for passenger-friendly driving:

• Do not move off until the passengers have sat down or have a firm grip, especially if they are elderly people, people with a walking stick or rollator, or parents with a pushchair.
• Brake in good time and gently. Driving with anticipation reduces the need for hard braking.
• Slow down before bends, not in them. Lateral forces in a bend can make standing passengers lose their balance.
• Accelerate gently away from bus stops and junctions.
• Avoid jerks when changing gear or lifting off the accelerator.

A smooth driving style is not just more comfortable. It reduces the risk of someone falling on the bus, and it also saves fuel.

School transport

When a vehicle is used for school transport (skolskjuts), special requirements apply (förordning 1970:340 om skolskjutsning 5 §):

• The vehicle must have a sign or similar showing that it is being used for school transport.
• Doors on the left-hand side must not be able to be opened by the passengers.
• Other doors must be designed so that they cannot be opened accidentally.

Children can be hard to predict. Be extra alert when they get on and off, and check carefully that all children are at a safe distance from the bus before you drive off.

Remember

• Everyone over three must wear a seat belt if there is a free belted seat.
• Exceptions apply on local transport in built-up areas and when the bus is stationary.
• Standing passengers mean a maximum of 90 km/h applies to a heavy bus.
• Adult passengers are responsible for their own seat belt. For children under 15, the driver and staff must take measures.
• Information is given by announcement or recorded message and stickers. On private hire services it is repeated after every stop where people get on.
• No one may get on or off while the bus is moving.
• Only move off when the passengers are seated or holding on, and drive smoothly.
• On school transport, the doors on the left-hand side must not be able to be opened by passengers.