Seatbelts in Coaches?

[beryllium]

Will it now become compulsory for all coaches to have seatbelts? after such a dreadful accident :-(
I thought they were on tachographs after hearing the driver was aledgidly(sp)? speeding...

[waynedl]

As a coach driver for a firm that does National Express work, I can tell you that seatbelts are fitted and are required by law to be worn, under 14's on the front row of seats are drivers responsibility. There is always a toilet on the vehicle, so how someone wee's without removin' their seatbelt is a mystery to me.
Also, all coaches are restricted to 100kph with a small varient between them so obviously the driver wasn't doing 80mph round that bend, if the person thinks they saw that, then it'd have been 80kmh which is around 50 mph.
It is almost impossible to lose the rear end of one of these vehicles due to high speed into a corner, it'll understeer and front tyres fold a lot a long time before the rear would even think of stepping out.
I think people making all these speculations should keep their mouths shut until they find out the FACTS, the tacho will be analyzed to check his speed etc but I think the driver has enough on his plate now with deaths on his hands etc that may not have been his fault without people pointing fingers and telling stories.

[beryllium]

Hi waynedl,
I'm interested in the fact that it is law for passengers to wear the seatbelts. So, if the ones who died or were injured hadn't been wearing their seatbelts? as responsible adults? then what did they expect?
Do the drivers get fined for running late? if that is the case then National Express and others need to think very carefully about the pressure they put the drivers under as it would be their fault and not the driver.
If the driver was under that amount of pressure from them I hope he sues them.
People and the media will speculate because only tit bits of info are given. Will they give the real info to the public eventually?
Thank you once again for your answer Wayne.

[waynedl]

The driver doesn't get fined for running late, I'm not sure if the firm contracting to Nat Ex does though.
The firm I work for doesn't put us under any pressure at any time to rush around and is very strict if you're caught speeding or complained about. But that doesn't mean they're not getting fined for it, just that they don't pass the pressure onto the driver.
It's been law for passengers to wear a seatbelt since (I think) September, I remember the notice going up at work, and we had to put stickers in all the windows next to the seats to remind people, we're also requested - where possible - to tell people that it's law to wear their seatbelt.
But as I said, what's the point of a toilet on a coach if noone can use it??
Also is it good for people to be sat in a seat for upto 4.5hrs without stretching their legs or emtying their bladder?
The one thing I'd like to point out, is people saying he was speeding to make up half an hour cause by a baggage issue, 1st this was not his fault so he wouldn't feel any pressure to make the time up, people would complain about the baggage not the coach journey, 2nd he's 40+yrs old and experienced, so he knows that no matter what he does in a vehicle restricted to 62mph, he's not going to make up 30 mins on a journey with times calculated at approx 62mph.

[beryllium]

interesting you say about people not being able to get up and stretch their legs on long journeys.
The driver has to stop himself yes? I don't know Tacho laws and driver length of time laws before a break has to be taken, but if a break for the driver is needed then that is when the passengers get a stretch too.
On a different note, when I was travelling in eastern Europe the coach drivers (2) would share the journey, either that or one was riding shotgun lol....... it was a dangerous time ;-)

[kwicky]

I'd like to know how National Express coaches regularly overtake me on motorways when I am doing 65-70mph and the coaches are said to be fitted with speed governors.

[waynedl]

to beryllium, it's 1 thing for a driver who's busy to be in the same seat for 4.5 hrs (that's the rules u were asking about) but another for someone sat there doing nothing.
As a rule, any job further than 200 miles each way would have a 2nd driver.

to kwicky, I wish our vehicles would, 62mph even down the M40 (the really steep hill that you drop to 40mph going up)
There used to be a loophole for vehicles not going into europe but I think that's gone now.
Trucks used to have a postal address in Ireland because that got them out of the restriction requirement but that one's definately gone now.

[beryllium]

Thank you Wayne, much appreciated. I don't think DVT is such a huge danger for passengers on coaches like there is on aeroplanes, so the movement thing is questionable and if there was the q. of DVT they can do simple foot exercises whilst seated. As for boredom? that's also questionable with the technology these days... TV is available on phones now lol..... ipods, (not an owner myself) but my old dad is and my grandad was and he was 90!!! so boredom is not really an issue. If the seats are that uncomfortable? take a pillow....
I'm sure there are some hardened travellers out there... and the oldens? well they know what to take hehe....
Once again many thanks for taking the time to answer.... and if you do get to hear of the outcome would you post it up pleaseee? I'm interested in the law side of it :-)
Have a fantastic evening
B. :-)