SAFETY ON BOARD
"SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY AT ALL TIMES"
Journey Planning
Journeys are planned to ensure that drivers can stay safely within the speed limits. Top speeds are governed to sensible limits and all tachograph and driver's hours regulations are carefully observed
Driving time and rest periods
Great attention is dedicated to the respect of driving times and rest times. The hours of operations for the driver are regulated by law. Neither the hirer or passenger shall delay or interrupt the journey in such as way that the driver is breaching regulations. If a breach occurs the hirer is responsible for additional costs incurred.
Regulation (EC) 561/2006 provides a common set of EU rules for maximum daily and fortnightly driving times, as well as daily and weekly minimum rest periods for all drivers of road haulage and passenger transport vehicles, subject to specified exceptions and national derogations. The scope of operations regulated is tremendously diverse, it includes: passenger transport and road haulage operations, both international and national, long and short distance, drivers for own account and for hire and reward, employees and self-employed.
The aim of this set of rules is to avoid distortion of competition, improve road safety and ensure drivers' good working conditions within the European Union.
These rules establish that:
- Daily driving period shall not exceed 9 hours, with an exemption of twice a week when it can be extended to 10 hours.
- Total weekly driving time may not exceed 56 hours and the total fortnightly driving time may not exceed 90 hours.
- Daily rest period shall be at least 11 hours, with an exception of going down to 9 hours maximum three times a week. Daily rest can be split into 3 hours rest followed by 9 hour rest to make a total of 12 hours daily rest
- Weekly rest is 45 continuous hours, which can be reduced every second week to 24 hours. Compensation arrangements apply for reduced weekly rest period. Weekly rest is to be taken after six days of working, except for coach drivers engaged in a single occasional service of international transport of passengers who may postpone their weekly rest period after 12 days in order to facilitate coach holidays.
- Breaks of at least 45 minutes (separable into 15 minutes followed by 30 minutes) should be taken after 4 ½ hours at the latest.
The compliance with these provisions is subject to continuous monitoring and controls, which are carried out on national and international level via checking tachograpgh records at the road side and at the premises of undertakings.
Drivers
Safety starts with our employees. Alterini Bus Company uses the Ministery of Transportation's medical certification guidelines to ensure that drivers meet the requirements by industry and government agencies. New drivers take part in a training program conducted by older and expert drivers. All our drivers work Exclusively for Alterini Bus Company with a regular contract as employees.
They are perfectly qualified, true professionals, safety conscious and highly trained. According to decree-law nr 81/2008 we test our drivers for alcohol and drugs. The medical visit is preventive (as a condition of employment) and periodical (every year)
Coaches
To ensure high standard of quality we use only the latest, most technologically advanced touring coaches, purchased brand new and equipped to our own specifications. Our motor coaches go through frequent maintenance inspections including brake systems, suspension and drive train, a through check of the heating and air conditioning systems, inspection of all tires and a review of oil and air lines. We replace critical parts long before necessary.
Each motor coach is inspected regularly in authorized workshops and undergo an annual Ministry of Transport inspection every 12 months.
In addition, our drivers fill an important role in the inspection process and trained to inspect the key aspects of their vehicles prior the departing from our facilities.
This is one key aspect to our success, surety and reliability
Seat Belts
We set up our coaches with lap strap safety belts for all our passengers, several years before the law demanded it. Today, all our coaches have safety belts, and seventy percent of fleet is fitted with three-point inertia safety belts, similar to the ones in your car
Motor Insurance and Public Liability Certificate
All our coaches are insured by UNIPOL-SAI S.p.a. with higher ceilings higher than required by law:
- Maximum of euro 50.000.000,00 per accident
- Maximum of euro 40.000.000,00 for damage to persons
- Maximum of euro 10.000.000,00 for damage to possession
You are covered for personal injury or damage of possessions travelling within our vehicle. we remind you this is not a travel insurance. It is not compulsory to take out further travel insurance although we highly recommend that you do, especially when travelling outside Italy.