Now bus tours are gaining great popularity. Many people prefer airplanes, travel in special comfortable buses long distance. The presented mode of transport has significant differences from the usual city buses. These differences mainly lie in the presence of comfortable soft seats with wide armrests. Also, long-distance buses have special compartments for carrying heavy luggage. You no longer need to keep huge bags next to you.
The increasing number of accidents on the road made many tourists think about it. On buses you can find the most safe places. So that when you go on a trip, be sure of complete security, follow the instructions below.
Precautionary measures
Almost every long-distance bus is equipped with seat belts. Many simply ignore this fact, but in vain. Be sure to use them while driving.
It is immediately recommended to inspect emergency hatches and emergency exits. When emergency, you will know in advance where to go. In addition, do not forget that documents and money should always be with you. Preferably in hand luggage take the first aid kit, which would be located closest.
Safe places
The most common impact in an accident is considered a frontal. Therefore, it is better not to take the first places. Another equally popular impact in a collision is a rear impact. Therefore, the rear seats are also better not to take into account. At the same time, please note that it is not recommended to occupy places up to 4 rows from the end.
Sweeping aside the presented options, only the middle of the bus remains. We understand further. High probability of impact from the roadway. That is, those places that are located on the left cannot be called safe. In addition, it is better to give preference to places in the middle of the cabin. Do not risk your safety for the sake of the landscape outside the window. Therefore, even if the impact during an accident hits your side, you will have protection in the form of a passenger next to the window.
If the long-distance bus is large, then it probably has a second door in the center of the cabin. It is best to take a seat next to this door. Because in a collision it is not enough to avoid a blow, it is also important to get out of the bus. Therefore, the seats next to the door in the middle of the cabin are the safest and most comfortable seats.
This article will focus on seats on the bus. We will talk about which ones to choose to feel safer, and which ones to ignore so as not to ruin your trip. Consider also the schemes of various buses.
Seats on long-distance buses
Transportation of people over long distances occupies a special niche in passenger transportation. It should be noted that there are separate tourist tours, which often use cars. large capacity. The location of the seats on the bus, the layout of which can change with different capacity of cars, can largely determine the comfort and safety of the trip. As a rule, a seat for a passenger is retained until the end of the trip, so you need to take his choice very responsibly.
Seats on buses - location
In the fleets of travel companies and enterprises involved in the transportation of people to long distance, there is a wide variety of car models. There is no single position on the bus, the scheme of which would be common to all manufacturers. Manufacturers, as well as companies involved in transportation, can equip machines at their discretion, if they do not violate the safety requirements regulated by normative documents. Even single-brand buses produced in the same year can differ as interior design, as well as the quantity seats. To the question: “What is the location of the seat on the bus, what does the layout inside look like?” the answer is only approximate.
Before buying a ticket, you should check with the carrier for the layout of the seats.
In addition to convenience, safety should be taken into account, on which the choice of the right place depends.
Safe places
News feeds often talk about traffic accidents involving passenger transport. Therefore, a careful selection of the location of the seat on the bus, the selection scheme of which is discussed below, will directly affect the safety of your life.
For a safer trip, you need to consider the following points:
- one of the safest places is the one located behind the driver's seat;
- you should choose seats located in the center of the cabin;
- it is better to choose seats installed on the right side.
The following places can ruin your trip:
- The last seats, because in this part, as a rule, there is a lot of burning, and after a certain period of time there is a risk of getting poisoned exhaust gases. Riding in the rear leads to more motion sickness, and when emergency braking there is a chance of flying into the aisle between the seats.
- Seats located next to the door or the driver.
- Non-folding seats, as a rule, located at the end, as well as in front of the exit in the middle of the cabin.
Placement examples
The photo below shows the location of the seat on the bus. The scheme of 47 places is typical.
This scheme is typical for the following brands: Higer KLQ 6119 TQ, YUTONG 6129.
The next photo also shows the location of the seat on the bus (diagram). 49 seats is a fairly common option.
The scheme is typical for the following brands: Higer KLQ6129Q, Bus Neoplan 1116, Setra 315.
So, you are probably wondering - what are these buses on which you will make your wonderful trips to different cities and countries?
These are cars specially designed for tourism, which are produced by a wide variety of companies. You certainly know some, for example, Mercedes, Neoplan, but most of the companies that produce tourist buses (Van-Hool, Setra) are usually little known among people not connected with the tourist business, but at the same time - these companies are "monsters " in your area.
Moving away from stereotypes and big names, let's find out what buses exist for tourist trips? First of all, they can be divided into one-story, one-and-a-half and two-story. In decent firms that care about their customers, only one and a half and double-decker buses which are considered the most convenient for tourism purposes.
Differences between one and a half and double decker buses
The difference between these buses is that in a one-and-a-half bus the floor with passengers is raised relative to the level of the drivers and is the only passenger floor, while on a 2-story bus there is a first floor where passengers can also sit. Now let's move on to the interior of the bus. It is quite standard, although it may differ in some not very significant details. The seats are always the same, as shown in the photo, only the distance between them differs.
Interior of a modern bus
It depends on the class of the bus - the more stars, the greater the distance between the seats and the fewer seats it has. But in any case, there is enough space, in addition, you can always recline or push the seats apart. As for the number of seats on the bus, the number of seats varies slightly depending on the manufacturer, but on average for a one and a half bus it is 42 seats, and for a two-story - 62 seats. There are also places with a table on the buses, depending on the type of bus, there may be a different number of them.
In addition to external data and the number of seats, buses differ in their configuration, i.e. presence speaker system(music), video systems (set: color monitors suspended from the ceiling, usually 2, 3 or 4, and a VCR), air conditioning, bio-toilet (although a toilet is always present).
This is how the TVs in the cabin now look
And finally, it is worth adding that to the undoubted advantages tourist buses applies luggage compartment, which contains very a large number of variety of luggage.
So, this is the main thing that can be said about the buses offered by travel companies.
There are no studies or statistics regarding where the person was sitting at the time of the accident and how this affected the outcome of the accident in Belarus. But foreign experts regularly study these issues. We collected these studies and asked Yuri Vazhnik, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Association of Transportation Experts and Surveyors, to comment on them. He agreed with some statements and disagreed with others.
Yury Vazhnik, Chairman of the Board of the Belarusian Association of Experts and Surveyors in Transport, notes that international research should also be treated with caution: there are factors that we can influence and which we cannot.
- For example, we can buckle up, the car will be equipped with an airbag - all this adds to the chances of survival. We can neither influence nor predict some factors: it is impossible to say in advance whether there will be a side or frontal impact, and this also affects the outcome of the accident.
Automobile
There are many versions that the front passenger seat is the most dangerous. Since at the time of the accident, the driver will instinctively turn the steering wheel to the left, moving away from the impact when head-on collision. The safest places are behind the driver.
“But the fact that the driver turns the steering wheel somewhere in a collision and avoids the impact is quite controversial, I doubt that such studies have been carried out by someone,” says Yuri Vazhnik. He notices that the passengers in the back almost never buckle up, unlike the passengers in the back. front seat. Fastened belt increases the chances of survival by 20-50%, another 20% adds an airbag. In the same time unfastened belt(as rear seat passengers often do) reduces the chances of survival. If both those and those are fastened, then the chances are approximately equal.
Minibus
The principle is the same as in a car: the front seats next to the driver are the most dangerous. The situation is aggravated by the fact that most often in the minibus, passengers in the front rows do not fasten their seat belts. No complete confidence the safety of passengers and last rows- a minibus can be flattened from a blow from behind.
Safe places are those that are located against the movement - the risk of hitting the back of the seat in front disappears.
Tourist bus
By analogy with a car or a minibus, the front and rear rows are quite unsafe. There is also a version that taking seats at the window, no matter how much you want it, is also quite unsafe - broken glass can cut.
Trolleybus, city bus
It is difficult to say which places are the most dangerous here. As a rule, public transport passengers get the most injuries if they were standing at the time of the accident.
Train
Passenger's golden rule railway transport: the closer to the middle of the car, the better. The closer to the middle of the train, the better. The first wagons can be crushed by impact, the last ones can derail. In addition, there is a version that the seats against the train are safer, since in a collision you will not fall off the shelf and hit.
Airplane
Most experts argue about safe seats on the plane. After all, the chances of surviving there are small. There is no consensus on safe seats on an airplane. Based on the facts published on the Popular Mechanics website, the safest places are located at emergency exits. This is due to the fact that most accidents occur during takeoff and landing, so those who have taken a seat at the emergency exits are more likely to get out of the aircraft. But here there are a lot of factors influencing whether the passenger will survive: for example, will he be able to open in a panic emergency exit? Another part of the scientists is sure that the safest places are located in the tail section of the aircraft. Which is also highly debatable.
Long bus journeys, and we mean them in this article, have some nuances, the neglect of which leads to very negative consequences. Unfortunate travelers arrive at the place tired, sleepy, with stiff legs and crooked necks. They remember the night on the bus as the most horrible dream and vow never to use that mode of transport again. And it’s completely in vain, because it’s not at all difficult to ensure your comfort and safety on a trip.
Safety
1. Rate the route
Try to find out in any way about the route that you have to go. If during this period the buses crash into the abyss at regular intervals, there are robberies or other accidents, then maybe you should change the route to a safer one, or at least choose a daytime flight.
2. Choose first class
In many countries, several companies operate on the same route. transport companies whose prices can vary considerably. What is the cost savings? Maybe due to the flat tires, no air conditioning and only one driver who will drive you all night without a shift? Or maybe your bus will stop in every village and pick up everyone who wants to, so that some people will constantly push around? In any case, you need to consider whether saving a few dollars is worth your peace of mind and security.
3. Luggage
Before boarding the bus, put all your valuables in a small bag or backpack and do not part with it for a minute. Take it with you to stops. During the movement, it is better to keep it on your lap or, if it interferes, put it on the floor and step on the belt with your foot. In this case, even during your sleep, nothing will happen to her.
4. At the bus stop
If you want to get out and stretch, be sure to check with the driver for the duration of the stop. Remember the bus number and the place where it stops. It's best not to stray too far from the bus station or bus stop unless you're looking to get to know the criminal life of this locality, which in such places, as a rule, is especially lively.
Comfort
1. Choice of location
Not all seats on the bus are the same. From a safety point of view, it is always better to choose seats in the middle part, since, according to statistics from insurance companies, most accidents occur in frontal or rear-end collisions.
In terms of comfort, there are many more factors to consider.
- Near a window or aisle? Many choose a place near the window for the sake of beautiful scenery. In addition, the surface of the window gives you the opportunity to lay your head on it and sleep. However, at night, you still can’t see any beauties, and the curved neck begins to numb after half an hour, so all the advantages of a window seat may turn out to be insignificant. But near the aisle you will have more space and even be able to stretch your legs.
- Front or back? Remember that you have rear seats you can't recline the back and it shakes harder there. If you are located in front, you will have to squint all the way from the headlights of oncoming cars and contemplate all the bends of the roadway. Also a pleasure for an amateur.
- Near a man or a woman? If there is no seat numbering on the bus and you yourself can choose where to sit, then first of all evaluate the overall adequacy of the fellow traveler, and then its size. Sitting all night next to a body that has spread out over a seat and a half can only be wished upon an enemy. And gender is a matter of taste. :)
2. Light and sound insulation
The first time you ride a bus, you look at all these people who took ear plugs and a sleep mask with them with surprise: “Here's another, sissies!” But then you quickly begin to envy them and reproach yourself for hindsight. Don't repeat this mistake. It is difficult to sleep on the bus at night, and without these penny devices, it is almost impossible in general.
3. Blanket and pillow
Yes, of course, we are not talking about those familiar items that we use at home. As a pillow, it is better to take a special inflatable bagel that supports the head and neck in the optimal position. This brilliant invention humanity that your crumpled jacket or bag will never compare to.
As for the blanket, you should take a light blanket or a long jacket on the bus that you can throw over yourself. Sometimes the temperature difference along the route can reach several tens of degrees (especially if the bus passes through mountainous areas), so if you don’t want to be shaking half the night from the cold, then this circumstance should be taken into account.
4. Drinking and toilet
What kind of comfort on a trip can we talk about if you are thirsty? Even more painful moments come when you realize that you want to go to the toilet, and go and go to the nearest stop. Dealing with these two types of discomfort is very simple.
- First, always take a bottle of water with you on the bus. Even if it's supposed to be there, take it anyway.
- And second, think about going to the toilet at every stop. Do not pay attention to your laziness and all these “does not seem to want” and “so far tolerable”. At the same time and warm up.
What to bring
Traveling in a bus is not a space flight, but you need to prepare for it no less carefully. While moving, you will be sealed in a rather small space of your seat, so it is worth taking care in advance that everything you need is at your fingertips. Here is a short list to guide you.
- A small handbag or body purse with the most valuable things. Documents, money, tickets, cards, smartphone and so on.
- A backpack or bag with things you might need.
- Items for sleep: earplugs, light-protective mask, blanket or jacket, air pillow.
- Entertainment: smartphone, book, player, tablet.
- Medicines that can help you with motion sickness, poisoning, or that are prescribed to you by your doctor.
- Water and, if necessary, a small snack: nuts, energy bars, sweets.
- Toilet paper!
