According to Eurostat data, the number of fatalities resulting from road accidents involving buses (including tourist buses) has halved since 2006, the ECTAA reports.
According to the organization, buses are the safest form of transport transport in the EU.
"Bus travel differs from other forms of leisure travel. This format allows drivers to rest during frequent and lengthy stops specified in the tour program," the organization explains. However, problems in this sector persist.
Mathias Madge from the World Road Transport Organization (IRU) said, commenting on the topic: "Road safety isn't something that can be agreed upon by all stakeholders. Meanwhile, specific and improved regulations for bus tourism will remove barriers to improving service levels."
The IRU is calling on the European community to take a more flexible approach to weekly rest periods for coach drivers and is proposing new legislative rules.
Specifically, the organization proposes introducing mandatory vacations for drivers after each tour. The current wording makes it virtually impossible for workers to fully utilize their vacation time. The proposed mandatory vacation period of several days would allow drivers to fully rest after a stressful workday.
It is also proposed to extend drivers' daily working hours to 16 hours (currently 15 hours). This twice-weekly measure, the IRU believes, would better accommodate tourists' needs, including those for trips to nightlife events, restaurant dinners, and unexpected traffic situations (such as traffic jams).
Tim Fairhurst, ETOA Policy Director, adds"Auto tourism is driving growth in key industry indicators in Europe, driven by key markets—countries outside the CIS whose tourists typically visit more than one European country. These new proposals will improve the efficiency of bus fleets without compromising safety."
Merike Hallik, President of ECTAA, concludes"The well-being and safety of drivers and passengers is a top priority for our sector. Specific regulations necessary for the proper functioning of our industry are not a safety risk."
Source: trn-news.ru