Massive violations at bus controls in Karlsruhe – drivers with problems!

Massive violations at bus controls in Karlsruhe – drivers with problems!

Recent bus checks at the main train station in Karlsruhe caused a lot of excitement. The traffic police discovered massive violations of bus drivers' driving and rest times on two mornings. Once again it shows how important compliance with these requirements is for safety in rail replacement transport. Loud ka-news.de Non-compliance with the regulations was found in all vehicles inspected.

Particular attention was paid to documenting working hours using control devices and driver cards. Many drivers either did not have a valid driver card with them or it was not used correctly. In some cases, the cards had expired or were even shared between multiple drivers. As a result, the police reported several administrative offenses.

Fines and consequences

The violations can have a hefty price tag. Bus drivers and their companies have to expect fines in the low five-figure range, especially when it comes to not carrying driver cards or using the control devices incorrectly. If the inspection is made more difficult, drivers face fines of up to 250 euros, while entrepreneurs are generally not asked to pay. In the case of serious violations, exceeding the daily driving time multiple times could result in expensive costs. A fine for exceeding the limit by more than two hours amounts to up to 60 euros for the driver and 180 euros for the entrepreneur for every half hour started bussgeld-info.de notes.

All of this is being done to maintain the regulations in rail replacement transport. The police did not miss the opportunity to prohibit a driver from continuing to drive - a remnant of the strict controls that aim to make the transport system safer. Companies that do not comply with the regulations face financial consequences.

Rules for driving and rest times

But what exactly do the driving and rest times mean? All bus drivers must adhere to the regulations that apply to vehicles over 3.5 tons. An important concern is, among other things, the regulation on the maximum driving time without interruption, which must not exceed 4.5 hours. After this period, a break of at least 45 minutes is required. Daily driving times are limited to a maximum of 9 hours, with the possibility of driving 10 hours twice a week, as bussgeldkatalog.org explained in detail.

It's not just the drivers who are affected by the regulations. The company must also ensure that schedules and adherence to driving times are consistent. The responsibility does not only lie on the shoulders of the drivers, but also the entrepreneurs have to be responsible for the measures taken. The coming time will show whether the controls will improve driving behavior in the long term.