Passenger Transport: Loading, Boarding and Alighting
Passenger safety begins before the doors open. Stop close to the kerb, in a well-lit and safe place, avoiding stops on bends, crests or where the bus would block a crossing. Apply the parking brake, and only then release the doors. Watch the platform and the mirrors: passengers approaching at a run, cyclists passing on the inside, and children near the door are the classic hazards.
Boarding and alighting rules: count passengers where required, ensure no one is trapped in the doors, and never move off until doors are closed and the area is clear. Passengers with reduced mobility need time, and the kneeling function and ramp must be used correctly. Standing passengers must be able to hold a handrail; do not brake sharply with standing passengers aboard. Luggage goes in the hold or the designated rack, never in the aisle. School transport demands particular care: children may cross in front of the bus, so warn them and watch the crossing.
Traps. Questions test the sequence: brake first, then doors; doors closed, then move. Another trap is the passenger who has not yet sat down; you may not pull away. Also, refusing to carry a passenger because of reduced mobility is unlawful.
Rule of thumb: "brake, doors, count, close, check, go." Worked example: a passenger is still walking down the aisle as you are ready to leave. You wait, because moving off with an unseated passenger risks a fall and is a breach of your duty of care.