Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website 25 years of bus and coach safety training: Omniplus has trained around 18 000 bus drivers, making a significant contribution to traffic safety
august 23, 2018 - Daimler

25 years of bus and coach safety training: Omniplus has trained around 18 000 bus drivers, making a significant contribution to traffic safety

  • Safety training: Experiencing buses in extreme situations and responding correctly
  • Focus on day-to-day practice, with numerous practical driving exercises
  • The comprehensive programme of Omniplus driver training

Stuttgart / Mannheim - Silver jubilee of the #safety training by Omniplus for #bus drivers: since 1993 drivers have been trained in how to recognise and avoid hazards and accidents. Twelve drivers took part in the first driver training in spring 1993; to date around 18 000 drivers have completed it. Experts are certain that this training has already prevented accidents. The #bus is accepted to be the safest means of road transport in Germany: only 1.4 percent of all road accidents with injuries and fatalities involve buses. Trained #bus drivers make a major contribution to this low proportion.

Safety training: Experiencing buses in extreme situations and responding correctly

Fast lane-change at high speed, emergency braking, driving in circles on a skidpan, wet downhill gradient with a water obstacle, reversing around a 180-degree bend, competitive test of skills – those taking part in Omniplus #safety training experience a great deal. Many drivers discover how buses behave in hazardous situations for the first time. The overriding objectives: recognising hazards, avoiding hazards – and reacting correctly in extreme cases.

In 1993 Omniplus was the first provider to create a #safety training course for #bus drivers. Since then, the service brand has trained an average of over 700 drivers each year in Germany, and last year the figure was as high as 780 drivers. One of the highlights was the #safety training for 1400 drivers of the transport operator Hamburg-Holstein in 2004/2005. Since the start, Omniplus has constantly expanded its #safety training. The training is divided into three practical courses, "BasicPlus for touring coaches", "BasicPlus for city buses" and the two-day "Premium #safety training for touring coaches". Omniplus even offers mobile #safety training courses, and special training for school #bus drivers.

Focus on day-to-day practice, with numerous practical driving exercises

The focus of the #safety training is on day-to-day practice right from the start. The training is based on what actually happens in accidents, which is why the emphasis is not only on dynamic driving exercises, but also on avoiding minor but annoying and expensive impact damage. The specific contents of the #safety training courses depend on the training locations and their facilities. The high level of practical content is always a special feature of Omniplus driver training: theoretical content is integrated into the practical driving exercises, therefore participants spend a high proportion behind the wheel.

The comprehensive Omniplus driver training programme

Omniplus now offers a full range of driver training courses. "Expert Handling Training" perfects the #bus handling skills of drivers in their own #bus. "Regulations and digital control instruments" covers the complex regulations for driving and resting times. "Communication Training" teaches confident handling of conflict situations with passengers. The training course "Handling passengers with restricted mobility" covers sensitivity in dealings with passengers in this group. One of the classics is "EcoTraining" to reduce fuel consumption and wear. "Emergency Training" teaches competence in extreme situations. The "Fitness, nutrition and first-aid" course heightens the driver's own body awareness and refreshes first-aid knowledge. "Safety Training" is one of the most popular courses. All the training courses are recognised as further education under German legislation covering the qualifications of professional drivers.