School trips: Fines for exceeding bus drivers΄ working hours
school trips
25 Apr 2023
/ 21:26
CORFU. Tourist agencies are having second thoughts as to whether Corfu will remain in the destinations of choice next year.
Heavy fines were imposed recently on drivers of school trip buses, as they told Enimerosi. The Corfu Traffic Police found several violations for exceeding the drivers' working hours, while the latter said that they do not work the hours provided due to the small distances of the island.
There were many school trips to Corfu in the period before Easter, as the island is one of the most popular destinations for the regular school trips. It is estimated that around 15,000-20,000 pupils set foot in Corfu, while another 10,000 are expected in the next three weeks to close this year's cycle of school trips.
Second thoughts
However, the heavy fines imposed are making tourist agencies having second thoughts about whether Corfu will remain amongst the destinations of choice. The three-week period remaining to complete the school trips for this year is expected to show how next year will go.
The situation that has been created has caused concern to the island's professionals, as the local economy and Corfu businesses are boosted by the thousands of pupils coming to the island. In fact, given that in the past the number of school trips was quite low compared to other areas of the country, professionals see their achievement being threatened.
Just doing its job
On the other hand, the Traffic Police are just doing their job. The total daily working hours of tourist bus drivers may not be more than 12. This includes the time spent taking the vehicle from and delivering it to the station, the time for any repairs to the vehicle during the trip and breaks during the trip. According to the abovementioned, the daily driving time may not exceed 8 hours.
However, as drivers pointed out, due to Corfu's short distances, the trips are short as well and driving hours are not exhausted. Thus, if a tourist bus moves outside the 12-hour limit, a Traffic Police check will show that the driver is violating their working hours, resulting in a fine.
"The programme is very relaxed due to the short distances of the island with the furthest being from Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa. The driver's time each day is short and the schedule followed does not justify having two drivers on the bus to do a 20km distance. Furthermore, due to the season, there is difficulty in finding drivers nationwide. There are second thoughts about whether Corfu will remain a travel destination next year," the owner of a tourist office from Thessaloniki who wants to remain anonymous told Enimerosi.
Emergency solutions
However, due to the fear of fines, as many were imposed in March, there were also cases where tourist office owners resorted to emergency solutions. So in April, some preferred to lease tourist coaches from Corfu for the necessary travel but at a more expensive price and others took a second driver, with the pupils, however, being forced to pay more. A four-day trip, for example, which was €160 initially, has increased to €190 following these changes.
"All this prevents us from coming back to Corfu. We can't be under the stress of being fined. We are not opposed to the Traffic Police checks but they are provocative and we are even deprived of the vehicle licences," the owner of a tourist office from Macedonia told Enimerosi.
Checks will continue
However, according to the Corfu Traffic Police, the intensive checks on school trip buses will continue, aimed at the safety of pupils.
There were many school trips to Corfu in the period before Easter, as the island is one of the most popular destinations for the regular school trips. It is estimated that around 15,000-20,000 pupils set foot in Corfu, while another 10,000 are expected in the next three weeks to close this year's cycle of school trips.
Second thoughts
However, the heavy fines imposed are making tourist agencies having second thoughts about whether Corfu will remain amongst the destinations of choice. The three-week period remaining to complete the school trips for this year is expected to show how next year will go.
The situation that has been created has caused concern to the island's professionals, as the local economy and Corfu businesses are boosted by the thousands of pupils coming to the island. In fact, given that in the past the number of school trips was quite low compared to other areas of the country, professionals see their achievement being threatened.
Just doing its job
On the other hand, the Traffic Police are just doing their job. The total daily working hours of tourist bus drivers may not be more than 12. This includes the time spent taking the vehicle from and delivering it to the station, the time for any repairs to the vehicle during the trip and breaks during the trip. According to the abovementioned, the daily driving time may not exceed 8 hours.
However, as drivers pointed out, due to Corfu's short distances, the trips are short as well and driving hours are not exhausted. Thus, if a tourist bus moves outside the 12-hour limit, a Traffic Police check will show that the driver is violating their working hours, resulting in a fine.
"The programme is very relaxed due to the short distances of the island with the furthest being from Corfu Town to Paleokastritsa. The driver's time each day is short and the schedule followed does not justify having two drivers on the bus to do a 20km distance. Furthermore, due to the season, there is difficulty in finding drivers nationwide. There are second thoughts about whether Corfu will remain a travel destination next year," the owner of a tourist office from Thessaloniki who wants to remain anonymous told Enimerosi.
Emergency solutions
However, due to the fear of fines, as many were imposed in March, there were also cases where tourist office owners resorted to emergency solutions. So in April, some preferred to lease tourist coaches from Corfu for the necessary travel but at a more expensive price and others took a second driver, with the pupils, however, being forced to pay more. A four-day trip, for example, which was €160 initially, has increased to €190 following these changes.
"All this prevents us from coming back to Corfu. We can't be under the stress of being fined. We are not opposed to the Traffic Police checks but they are provocative and we are even deprived of the vehicle licences," the owner of a tourist office from Macedonia told Enimerosi.
Checks will continue
However, according to the Corfu Traffic Police, the intensive checks on school trip buses will continue, aimed at the safety of pupils.
