Safety duties for bus operators

Definition of a bus operator

A bus operator is the person responsible for controlling or directing the operations of a bus service in connection with a business or activity involving the transport of passengers. This does not include a person who:

• arranges for the registration of a bus
• maintains or arranges for the maintenance of a bus.

An operator of a bus service should consider:

• the maintenance, servicing and inspection of buses
• passenger safety
• driver safety including, driver fitness and fatigue management
• driver qualifications.

Managing difficult passengers

Drivers may encounter difficult or aggressive passengers during the course of their duties. These passengers have the potential to distract and distress the driver. You should develop a method to handle these incidences.

Alcohol and drug management

Accredited bus operators must develop their own alcohol and drug management policy. More information about what needs to be included in this policy is available on the alcohol and drug management page.

Driver accreditation

Driver accreditation is mandatory for drivers of commercial and local bus services.There are medical standards applicable to bus drivers. These standards are administered through Commercial Passenger Vehicles Victoria (CPVV) - formerly the Taxi Services Commission - which licenses bus drivers.

Management information systems

Bus operators must develop their own management information system (MIS) based on their operating conditions, risks, incident history, and determined safety objectives. More information, including access to sample forms and case studies, is available on our website.

Maintenance management systems

Accredited bus operators must develop their own maintenance management system (MMS). The purpose of an MMS is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that each bus is safe and roadworthy whenever it is carrying passengers. More information about what needs to be included in an MMS is available on our website.

Exemptions

Certain previously registered operators were either deemed accredited on 1 March 2022 or otherwise exempt from the provisions of the Bus Safety Act 2009 (Vic) and Bus Safety Regulations 2020 (Vic).

The exempted operators provide services with under 26 seats for:

• Religious purposes
• Philanthropic purposes
• Social purposes

If you provide one of the above services with a bus that has 27 or more adult seating position you must be accredited.

It is up to these operators to determine whether they fall under these categories.