
On 6 August 2020, Bennetts Coaches were awarded Visit Britain’s ‘Good to Go’ Industry Standard kitemark. This award recognises that we have followed Government and industry Covid-19 re-opening guidelines, including detailed Risk Assessments, enhanced cleaning and sanitising regimes of our vehicles and depot and we have processes in place to aid social distancing.
We have a comprehensive range of safety measures in place at our depot and on our private hire services to mitigate Covid-19 risks to drivers and passengers, a summary of which can be found below. Our full Covid-19 Risk Assessment is available on our website under COVID-19.
- All employees are temperature checked prior to entering depot via a one-way system.
- Since March 2021, we have also participated in the Government’s workplace testing scheme. All employess are tested on a regular basis using lateral flow testing kits.
- All employees wear face coverings in all depot communal areas.
- Sanitiser stations are positioned on site and appropriate PPE issued to employees.
- Passengers must stay at home and request a testing kit if they, or any member of their household is showing symptoms of Covid-19.
- We operate larger capacity vehicles to allow some additional empty seating, where possible.
- Drivers wear facemasks and visors whilst passengers board/alight.
- Drivers are not permitted to wear visors when driving. Drivers are encouraged to wear face masks if it does not interfere with their vision.
- Where seating capacity allows, seats directly behind the driver will be taken out of use.
- Seats on vehicles that face each other are removed from service if social distancing guidelines not met.
- Passengers are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering whilst queuing for and travelling on the vehicle.
- Passengers are requested to form an orderly queue and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- Hand sanitiser provided on vehicles and passengers are advised to also bring personal supply.
- Passengers encouraged to follow ‘Catch It, Bin It, Kill It’ message and carry tissues.
- No cash payments or ad hoc travel permitted.
- Passengers are encouraged to sit with family from the same bubble where possible.
- Social distancing markers are placed on the floor of vehicles.
- Passengers must not swap seats once they have sat down.
- Seatbelts must be worn, and passengers must face forward at all times.
- Bags should be stored on the floor, between passenger’s feet and not in overhead racks.
- Passengers must not queue in the aisle when alighting vehicle.
- Toilet facilities may be out of action for short journeys.
- No eating or drinking permitted on vehicle. Only water may be consumed in hot weather.
- Roof hatches to be kept open on vehicles to maintain good ventilation.
- Drivers to clean vehicle between services e.g. handrails, switches, seatbelts, and grab rails etc.
- Vehicles cleaned as per our enhanced cleaning regime upon return to depot.
- Vehicles ‘fogged’ at least once a day with an appropriate sanitiser.
