Wexford Bus - Creating a Safe and Sustainable Bus Fleet Operation for All

Jo Daniels EH&S Manager

Introducing Wexford Bus

Types of service operated: ▪ Licenced scheduled services ▪ Contracted services (Local link) ▪ School transport contracts ▪ Private Hire > 100 staff

In house vehicle maintenance

Fleet: 38 coaches & 17 buses

Scheduled Routes Operated: ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Wexford to Dublin City & Airport (Route 740) Wicklow to Dublin City & Airport (Route 740A) Wexford to Waterford (Route 340) Wexford to Carlow (Route 376) Gorey to Maynooth University (Route NUM11) Wexford Town Drinagh Loop (Route WX1) Wexford Town Clonard Loop (Route WX2) Wexford to Kilmore Quay (Route 390) The Bridge Loop (Route 877)

Our Key Challenges

Providing safe & sustainable public transport that is commercially viable

Maintaining Standards with accelerated business growth

Skills Shortage Professional drivers & HGV Mechanics

Risk Factors- Driving for work, by its nature, presents increased risk Maintenance Activities

Vulnerable Road Users

Collisions Mental Health

Antisocial Behaviour

Safe Driving Behaviour Initiatives Multi-assessment recruitment process

Enhanced modularised driver induction programme

Driving Academy established

Vehicle telematics system

Incident Reporting & Management

Roads kills Online e training

Safer Vehicle Initiatives Vehicle Procurement

Safety Focused Vehicle Procurement Strategy

Development of Technical Services Team’s expertise

Customised Asset Management Software

Inspection, service and preventative maintenance programme

Alignment with our Safety-First Strategy Early adoption of safety technologies

➢ Dynamic steering ➢ Driver Alert System ➢ Improved Field of Vision ➢ Enhanced Front Impact Protection ➢ Forward Collision warning ➢ Emergency braking ➢ Adaptive Cruise Control ➢ Lane keeping support

Route Safety Initiatives Route Risk Assessments

Driver’s Handbook

Conflict Resolution and De-escalation Techniques Training

Seat reservation system and active capacity management

Defined Procedures for Luggage Compartment Operation

Dynamic Risk Assessment of breakdown response

Our Case Study Journey 2016-2019 In-house maintenance team established

Training Team Certified Business ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Vehicle telematics technology introduced

Asset Management Software CCTV system installation HGV Mechanic graduation Phase 1 Alcohol Interlocks

94% measured customer satisfaction

16 Euro VI vehicles purchased

The journey continues…2020 + Child Safeguarding Policy

Route Folders

Driving Academy

Approved CPC training centre

Defibrillator and First Aiders Grey Fleet Driving Policy Accident Investigation Process & training

Roadskills online E learning Manual Handling Train the Trainer

CPC Approved training centre

Driver Handbook Rewiring Tenant Unit

Employee Assistance Programme

Results-Enhancing Passenger, Driver and other road user safety Safety Record: Over the past 5 years, Wexford Bus has safely transported over 3.3 million passengers with only 3 reported Personal Injury claims, demonstrating our commitment to passenger safety.

Customer Satisfaction 2023: In response to the question, "How would you rate Wexford Bus in terms of our commitment to your health and safety?" an impressive 92.5% of the 600 surveyed passengers rated it as excellent or above average.

Accident and Incident Management: In 2022, out of 53,000 services operated, we recorded a total of 43 incidents, which translates to an impressively low incident rate of 0.08%. It's worth noting that these incidents were predominantly minor in nature.

Proactive Measures: Our data-driven approach, leveraging telematics, has enabled us to focus on discipline within 50km speed zones, ensuring safer journeys for our passengers.

Safety Culture: Wexford Bus has fostered a strong safety culture, exemplified by numerous "Good Catch" interventions that have successfully averted potential injury risks.

Results – Competitive Insurance Costs December 2019 the Central Bank issued its first Motor Insurance Report of the National Claims Information Database This graph compares the % change in WB premiums per vehicle compared to personal motor industry data 2013-2018 Industry premiums rose by 62% WB premiums lowered by 37%

Results – Reduced Maintenance Costs ➢Maximum vehicle up time ➢Low breakdown rate ➢Efficiencies attributed to vehicle standardisation and specialised training resulting in faster diagnostics ➢Informed decisions on fleet management, maintenance budgeting and tender submissions ➢20% reduction in capital tied up in parts held in stock

CVRT – First Time Pass Rate

Results – Reduced costs from Driving Initiatives

➢Reduced damage costs ➢Lower fuel cost per vehicle

Results – Process to Learn from Incidents Learning from Industry (5 killer behaviours)

Driving for work Policy

Control Measures trained to drivers during induction

Learning from WB Incident/Accidents (luggage compartments)

Review with driver / Root Cause analysis/ learning identified

Safety Awareness training by WB driving instructor

Results – Positive Culture

Our Staff Lead Improvements

2019 In House Training Team Qualified QQI L6 Training Delivery and Evaluation

2022 428 hours of In Class training delivered

Roadskills online, monthly CPD accredited toolbox talks

Wexford Bus Driving Academy 2022 2023

10 Cat D qualified Heavy-Duty Vehicle (Bus & Coach) 9 qualified Year To Date and 19 in the process 250 hours driver training delivered on the road

Results – We are Prepared We meet our biggest challenges from a position of strength 12th March 2020

COVID 19

✓ Strong H&S leadership from Management Team ✓ Planning well advanced ✓ Active H&S committee and Drivers Forum ✓ Competent training team ✓ Systems based Operations capable of adapting ✓ Team confident in our system

Top Learnings Adaptability & Continuous Improvement (Essential attributes) Watch for Opportunities amid crisis

Long term view

Expertise and resources are available

Next Steps Lead by the Team, any individual can influence change

Redevelopment of Operations Centre

Eliminate more reversing manoeuvres.

Segregate fleet and employee vehicles.

Decarbonisation

Continued Fleet Investment

Scope to plan for safe vehicle charging infrastructure.

Thank you for taking this journey with us