Transport for LondonAdvice for drivers
General advice
- Do not arrive early to load, or remain after unloading
- Make full use of telephones, radios etc to ensure groups are ready to be picked up
- Stay with your vehicle at all times. Booking passengers into hotels or carrying luggage are not your job
- Do not obstruct other traffic with your coach
- Any instructions to move on by police officers, traffic wardens or parking attendants should be obeyed
- Do not set down, pick up or park at bus stops
- Do not drive in bus lanes, unless within permitted hours marked on signs
For more advice please download the Operating Coaches in London leaflet (PDF 483KB).
Air Quality
Engines should be switched off when the coach is parked.
As well as being illegal, leaving engines running is a substantial contributor to poor air quality and the largest cause of complaints about coaches in London.
Safety advice
It is now compulsory for all passengers, including the courier, to wear a seat belt if they are provided with one on a moving coach. This does not prevent passengers from getting up to use facilities when they need to.
Operators are responsible for telling passengers about this requirement in one of the following ways:
- There can be a notice (or pictogram) at every seat
- The driver or courier can make an announcement, play an audio recording, or show a video
The rules on seat belts do not apply to children under 14.
Look out for cyclists
- Take extra care when turning left or right
- Give space to cyclists when overtaking
- Leave space for cyclists at junctions
Hiring guides
When hiring a guide you should check that he or she is a London Tourist Board registered Blue Badge guide. The trade associations are:
Guild of Registered Tourist Guides
Guild House
52d Borough High Street
London SE1 IXN
Tel: 020 7403 1115
Fax: 020 7378 1705
Email: guild@blue-badge.org.uk
Association of Professional Tourist Guides
33-37 Moreland Street
London EC1V 8HA
Tel: 020 7780 4060
Fax: 020 7780 4142
Email: aptg@aptg.org.uk
