NightCap Campaign

Up to 30% of coach crashes are linked to driver fatigue

A European Commission report identified driver fatigue as a contributing factor in nearly a third of coach crashes. The true figure may be even higher, as many drivers understandably hesitate to admit they've nodded off or were not fully alert.

Key Risk Areas: These incidents predominantly occur on motorways and during overnight journeys - conditions common on return trips to the UK.

Coach Driver Fatigue: What Every Parent and Teacher Should Know

The 21-Hour Shift Reality

Thousands of coach drivers have contacted BUSK, sharing deeply worrying accounts of extreme fatigue. Many report being scheduled for legally permitted 21-hour shifts shared between two drivers.

30+ hours awake by shift end

The Skills Ruling (1999)

A critical legal precedent makes it illegal for a driver to operate a car before beginning a coach journey without recording that travel on the tachograph.

If a driver travels to the depot in a personal vehicle, that time must be documented as it contributes to overall fatigue.

Why This Matters to You

Whether you're a parent trusting a coach to carry your child to a school trip, or a teacher organising travel for students, it's vital to understand the pressures drivers face.

Reaction Times

Significantly slower

Concentration

Dangerously fades

Accident Risk

Increases dramatically

Essential Questions to Ask:

How long has the driver been awake?

Was any prior travel (even by car) recorded?

Is the schedule realistic and safe?

Together, we can advocate for safer standards and ensure that every journey, especially those carrying children, is made with alert, well-rested drivers at the wheel.

Understanding the Industry

Coach Company

A coach company primarily provides transportation services. Their core business is supplying vehicles (coaches or buses) and professional drivers to move passengers from point A to point B.

Key features:

Owns and operates the coaches
Hires and manages drivers
Responsible for vehicle maintenance, safety, and compliance with driving regulations
May be subcontracted by tour companies or schools for specific journeys
Not typically responsible for accommodation, meals, or itinerary planning

Think of them as the "wheels" of the operation.

Tour Company

A tour company designs and sells complete travel experiences, often including transportation, accommodation, meals, sightseeing, and guides.

Key features:

Creates and markets package holidays or guided tours
May include flights, hotels, excursions, and coach travel
Often contracts coach companies to provide the transport element
Responsible for the overall itinerary and customer experience
Must comply with package travel regulations and consumer protection laws (e.g., ATOL in the UK)

They're the "architects" of the trip.

How They Work Together

A tour company might hire a coach company to provide transport for a multi-day trip across Europe. The coach company supplies the vehicle and driver, while the tour company handles everything else — from hotel bookings to sightseeing schedules.

So if something goes wrong with the hotel or itinerary, the tour company is accountable. If there's an issue with the coach or driver, the coach company is responsible, although tour companies can also bear part of this responsibility - particularly if they hire from a non-reputable company.

Tour Companies - The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous

While many reputable tour companies prioritise safety and driver welfare, others cut corners, putting lives at risk.

You can spot the irresponsible ones - they:

Overcrowd drivers into shared rooms, sometimes six to a room, even when they're strangers.
Ignore basic sleep hygiene, with noisy environments, snoring roommates, and disruptive habits.
Fail to respect privacy, forcing drivers to sleep in unsuitable conditions that compromise rest and dignity.

Would you sleep well in a cramped room with strangers, some watching TV or gaming while you prepare for a 5 a.m. shift?

A responsible tour company ensures drivers have:

A private, quiet room with an en-suite bathroom.
Accommodation away from noisy hotel areas or kitchens.
A day bed on the final day before an overnight journey.

Shockingly, some drivers must fight for a day bed, as companies dodge their legal obligations. This must stop.

Schools and Local Authorities - Time to Step Up

Teachers, governors, and education leaders - this is your responsibility too.

Monmouthshire County Council has already taken action, requiring its schools to secure written confirmation of driver accommodation before booking school trips. If one authority can do it, others can too.

Legal obligations require tour companies to:

Provide suitable sleeping arrangements for drivers.
Ensure a day bed is available before overnight travel.

Teachers must risk assess driver fitness just as they would question a driver seen drinking the night before a trip. Fatigue is just as dangerous, if not more so, than alcohol.

Ferry Crossings - Another Overlooked Risk

Driver Fatigue and Ferry Travel: What You Should Know

Coach drivers often begin their journey long before they take control of the vehicle. Many travel for hours by car to reach ferry terminals, where they then board to take over a coach abroad. While rest is essential at this stage, conditions are far from ideal. On longer crossings, drivers may be allocated cramped cabins shared with up to three others—sometimes strangers. Although it's now rare for drivers to share with someone of the opposite sex, the lack of privacy and proper rest remains a concern.

Important Note: Most school-related coach trips use short ferry routes like Dover to Calais or Dunkerque, which typically don't involve overnight cabins. However, for longer journeys or tours, these conditions still apply and can significantly affect a driver's ability to stay alert and safe.

Why It Matters

Understanding the full scope of a driver's journey, including the hours spent travelling before even starting their shift, helps highlight the importance of proper rest and scheduling. Fatigue isn't just a personal discomfort; it's a safety issue that affects every passenger on board.

This is unacceptable. It violates basic standards of care and dignity. Tour companies that allow this are failing their duty. Unless schools or groups know the right questions to ask, they may unknowingly expose students to environments that are physically and emotionally unsuitable. This lack of transparency is not just negligent - it's dangerous. Safeguarding must be proactive, not reactive.

School Trip Transport: Who's Responsible?

When booking a school trip, it's vital to know who's in charge of what, especially if something goes wrong. Here's a quick guide to help you navigate coach travel arrangements.

Coach Company

Provides the vehicle and driver. Contact them if there are issues with:

Coach safety or breakdowns.
Driver fatigue, behaviour, or rest.
Driving hours or tachograph compliance.

Tour Company

Organises the full trip package. Contact them if there are problems with:

Accommodation or safeguarding.
Meals, excursions, or itinerary.
Overall trip management.

Coach Broker

Acts as a middleman - doesn't own coaches or employ drivers. Tour companies may use brokers to source transport. This adds a layer of separation and can affect safety and accountability.

Risks to consider:

Brokers may choose coach companies based on cost, not quality.
Oversight of driver rest and legal compliance may be limited.
Responsibility can be unclear if issues arise.

What You Should Ask Before Booking

Who is supplying the coach - direct operator or via broker?
Is the coach company licensed and insured?
Will the driver have a day bed before any overnight drive (a legal requirement)?
Are facilities appropriate for driver rest and privacy?
Can I speak directly to the coach company if needed?

Final Tip

Always get the names of the coach and tour companies. Keep emergency contacts handy. Ask questions early - your vigilance helps keep children safe.

Adventure Holidays - Great for Kids, But What About the Drivers?

For children, camping trips and outdoor adventures are a chance to explore, bond, and embrace the fun of "roughing it." But for coach drivers, these trips are part of their job—and proper rest and privacy are essential to ensure they can drive safely and responsibly.

BUSK has received reports that, on occasion, some camping adventure sites provide only a single shower block shared by both children and drivers. While this may not be the norm, it raises important safeguarding and privacy concerns. Parents and teachers are strongly encouraged to check these arrangements in advance when booking, to ensure facilities are appropriate and drivers are given the rest and privacy they need.

Some drivers enjoy the camping element and the camaraderie it brings, but it's important to remember: drivers are not on holiday - they're working. And when a return journey involves overnight driving, the law requires that drivers be provided with a day bed beforehand to ensure they are properly rested. This is not just best practice - it's a legal obligation designed to protect everyone on board.

For safety reasons, it's also recommended that drivers are offered proper accommodation - such as a room in a B&B or hotel, especially on the final night before the return journey. A well-rested driver is a safer driver, and that benefits every child, teacher, and parent involved.

School Trip Planning Checklist: Coach Travel & Driver Welfare

When organising a school trip that involves coach travel, it's essential to consider not just the children's experience, but also the safety and wellbeing of the drivers responsible for getting them there and back. Here's what to check before booking:

Driver Rest & Legal Requirements

Day Bed Before Overnight Driving

If the return journey involves overnight driving, the law requires that drivers are provided with a day bed beforehand to ensure they are properly rested. This is a legal obligation, not just best practice.

Accommodation on Final Night

For longer trips, especially those involving adventure or camping, drivers should be offered proper accommodation (e.g., a B&B or hotel room) on the final night before the return journey.

Facilities at Campsites & Adventure Centres

Shared Shower Blocks

BUSK has received reports that some sites provide only one shower block shared by both children and drivers. This raises safeguarding and privacy concerns. Check in advance whether facilities are separate and appropriate for adult use.

Sleeping Arrangements

Drivers may be expected to sleep in tents or caravans. While some enjoy this, it's important to ensure the setup allows for proper rest and privacy.

Ferry Travel Considerations

Pre-Shift Travel

Drivers often travel long distances by car before boarding a ferry to take over a coach abroad. This time must be recorded on the tachograph, as per the 1999 Skills ruling.

Cabin Conditions

On longer ferry routes, drivers may be assigned cramped cabins with multiple occupants. While mixed-gender sharing is now rare, privacy and rest can still be compromised.

Most school trips use short crossings (e.g., Dover–Calais), which typically don't involve cabins, but it's worth confirming.

Key Takeaway

A well-rested, properly accommodated driver isn't just a courtesy - it's a safety essential. By asking the right questions and checking these details in advance, you help ensure a safe, enjoyable trip for everyone involved.

Parents and Carers - What You Can Do

You may be paying £1,000 or more for your child's trip. You have the right to know:

Driver Accommodation

Where the driver will sleep and rest

Driver Alertness

Whether they'll be properly rested

Safeguarding

If protocols are being followed

Before signing along the dotted line, ask your child's school for written confirmation that drivers will be properly accommodated. Don't rely on glossy brochures - demand transparency.

Ready-to-Use Letter Templates

We've prepared professional letter templates to help you communicate your concerns effectively with schools and tour companies.

Parent Letter Template

Template to send directly to schools or tour companies expressing your concerns about driver safety and accommodation.

Download Template

School Policy Briefing

A comprehensive briefing document for governors, trip coordinators, and local authorities on safeguarding coach travel.

Download Briefing

Need More Support? For additional guidance on national policies and regulations, contact us at buskuk@btinternet.com or 07926 116631.

Taking Action Together

If BUSK doesn't raise these issues, the rogue tour companies certainly won't. Change starts with awareness and with you.

Let's ensure every journey begins with a fully rested, alert driver. Lives depend on it.