For trip organizers, as well as parents and guardians of children who have decided to seek Police support, the lists of Coach Inspection Points published both on the website of the National Police Headquarters and on the websites of individual provincial, municipal and county Police headquarters are very helpful.

The vehicle’s technical condition and the driver’s sobriety are the basic elements of every coach inspection. Tachograph records are also checked. It should be noted that the provisions of law in force both in Poland and throughout the European Union require tachographs to be installed, among other vehicles, in coaches. The tachograph’s main function is to record information about driving time, breaks during driving, driving speed and distance travelled. This information can show whether the permitted limit on the driver’s working time has been exceeded.

During the inspection, police officers also check the levels of operating fluids, tyre tread wear, the functioning of lights, the operation of steering systems and the vehicle’s mandatory equipment, including a first-aid kit, fire extinguishers and a warning triangle.

If the inspection is completed without any issues, the inspectors allow the vehicle to continue its journey.

We also remind you that basic information about a bus can be obtained by visiting the bezpiecznyautobus.gov.pl website. By entering the vehicle’s registration number, you can find, among other things, whether the bus has a valid technical inspection and third-party liability insurance, as well as its odometer reading.

Before departure

  • Before ordering a vehicle (coach), the trip or event organizer should determine the number of passengers and check whether the vehicle is adapted to carry the required number of people,
  • When preparing a coach trip, the safety of passengers should be the primary consideration. It is important that the coach be in impeccable technical condition and that the company offering its services enjoy the best possible reputation,
  • Let us remember that a heavily worn vehicle, even if it has been prepared for the journey, poses a risk of breakdowns and complications during travel,
    Information about the vehicle’s technical condition can be obtained by asking to see its technical inspection certificate,
  • If a teacher or parent at the meeting point suspects that the coach is defective, or the driver’s behaviour indicates that they may be under the influence of alcohol, they should not agree to the departure. The Police should then be called to verify the suspicions,
  • Precautions related to the coach’s technical condition must be observed regardless of the length of the route.

During the journey

  • A bus carrying an organized group of children and young people under 18 must display yellow signs with a black child symbol at the front and rear. The driver of such a vehicle is required to switch on the hazard lights while the children are boarding or getting off,
  • While transporting passengers, a bus driver may not smoke or consume food. The driver is also prohibited from leaving the vehicle while the engine is running,
  • If the coach is equipped with seat belts, both the driver and the trip participants must wear them,
  • The coach driver is required to inform passengers of the obligation to use seat belts, unless they have been informed by the person in the vehicle supervising the group being transported. The information may also be provided using an audiovisual device or a sign placed visibly beside each seat,
  • While the vehicle is moving, passengers should not walk around inside it, lean out of the windows, stand on the seats or lean against the doors. In addition to being dangerous, such behaviour distracts the driver,
  • The aisles in the coach must remain clear to enable rapid evacuation if necessary; all luggage should be placed on the shelves or in the luggage compartment,
  • Bus stops should be organized in designated places, preferably in marked car parks. Children should also be warned that vehicles move around in car parks: cars arrive and drivers perform manoeuvres such as reversing,
  • Passengers should not board or leave the bus from the road side, nor should they step onto the road from behind the vehicle,
  • Trip supervisors share responsibility for the safety of the children being transported. If the coach driver violates safety rules, such as exceeding the speed limit or talking on a mobile phone, they should be firmly reprimanded.

We wish you a peaceful and safe journey!