When traveling in a group, traveling together in a large vehicle, such as a bus or coach, is a great way to greatly enhance the fun of the trip. This allows for activities and conversations throughout the journey, preventing boredom and allowing for easy assistance. Another interesting aspect is that when chartering a large bus, you’ll have a driver and crew on board, saving you the stress of driving yourself, especially on long trips. Furthermore, it’s even more reassuring if the bus and driver are familiar with your route, ensuring safety and familiarity. This ensures a smoother journey. However, there’s another important consideration that most passengers don’t realize: driver rest times. When driving on regular routes with regular buses, these regulations are clearly stated. However, when chartering a private vehicle for a tour, we need to ensure this is crucial, as it impacts the driver’s readiness, a crucial factor in ensuring our own safety.
Therefore, when chartering a private vehicle for sightseeing or long-distance travel, we should schedule multiple rest stops. For very long journeys, It’s also a good idea to request an additional driver to assist with the driving of the bus for safety and to ensure the readiness of our drivers. Importantly, this is also a legal requirement.
The Land Transport Act of 1979, Section 103 bis, states:
“In the case of long-distance trips requiring continuous driving of more than four hours, the renter must arrange for two drivers to take turns driving. However, if only one driver is not required, a rest stop must be designated for the driver after four hours of continuous driving. A maximum of half an hour must be provided for the driver, after which the driver may continue driving for no more than four hours.”
Therefore, both to comply with the law and to maximize the efficiency of driving, we should arrange for an additional driver or appropriate rest stop for the drivers of the buses we rent. A long trip that causes driver fatigue will do more harm than good.