The execution of many tens of thousands of journeys per day causes incidents. Provided that every incident is really one too many, we still have to make a case for carriers and drivers. They are often the first to be approached by parents and travelers when something goes wrong. The sector complains that there is such a great shortage of experienced bus drivers and escorts. More buses and more escorts, that could be the solution, but unfortunately that was cut back by the clients, often the government. After all, costs must be kept as low as possible.
Any incident is a painful issue for the child and the parents. For children in that type of transport, 'rest and regularity' is important. Transporters are aware that they transport children from vulnerable target groups and do everything they can to prevent incidents. Frequent driver changes, poor communication and children getting upset. Parents often have an opinion too, because illogical routes are taken and travel times are too long. For example, a citizens' initiative was recently started by a mother from Noordwijk about the decline in student transport.
politics and media
It is unavoidable that the local newspaper or a program such as Hart van Nederland reports every incident extensively in the media. That is not necessary, but then they may also be able to draw attention to the fact that many tens of thousands of rides went well the same day. It gets worse when opposition parties use the incidents to continuously bombard aldermen with questions during the council meeting. For certain politicians and parties it becomes their life's work to shout from the sidelines to be able to send the responsible alderman away.
Some incidents are unacceptable. For example, a mother recently told RTV Krimpenerwaard that her son was dropped off at the wrong school. The reason for this is usually due to human error, but here too it does not always have to have been the driver. An administrative error during the registration with the client can lead to this incident. Complaints are reported about the driver not checking whether someone is at home when the child is dropped off. Surely you can expect that it is logical that one of the parents takes care of the child and that someone is at home? That too has now become the driver's responsibility.
The quality of transport has a major impact on children and on the family. The transport of students from Valkenswaard to the Pius X-College in Bladel did not go well. According to a councilor of Valkenswaard Local, complaints about transport were pouring in. Parents of children from Heusden who use adapted student transport received a letter from the municipality and the carrier, in which the shortage of drivers was discussed. For example, bottlenecks arise in student transport because drivers sometimes make multiple journeys, causing children to arrive late for school. Trips are then forced to merge, with the result that children spend longer in a taxi.
no understanding
In most cases, at the start of their work, drivers receive a journey order containing the destination address and pick-up address. When the student is dropped off at home and at school, a 'warm' transfer takes place between the driver, parent/guardian and school. Still, it often happens that the parents are not home yet, so what do you do as a driver? Wait for them to arrive and have all the other children wait in the bus, or knock on the door of the neighbors with all the consequences that entails? Whatever the driver does, it is never good because the parents of the other children invariably complain about bringing the children home too late.
emergency bell
Nevertheless, we ask for respect for drivers and carriers. The trade association KNV sounded the alarm earlier. According to the Royal Dutch Transport, the shortage of personnel at transport companies is now increasing to such an extent that it is increasingly stated that journeys can no longer be driven on time or even threaten to stop altogether. Perhaps all the problems presented are a reason to take a closer look at the tenders. Also by clients when assessing which transport company they will work with.
Also read: Pupil transport cannot simply be combined
