Covid-19 Safe Operating Procedures for Day Excursion Customers (as of 16th June 2021)

Date Added 22/06/2021

We are pleased to advise that we can now seat passengers on every forward-facing seat on our coaches. This recent change follows a risk-based case for the use of every forward-facing seat on coaches that was published in mid-May by the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT). CPT’s document highlights measures that have been taken by the industry to mitigate virus transmission on coaches. It also notes that aeroplanes and trains that have operated for some time now with no mandated social distancing have experienced almost no evidence of increased transmission risk.

The government in their response to the 1 metre plus social distancing guidance says, “This is not an absolute requirement” on coaches, provided that suitable mitigation measures are in place. We have considerable mitigation procedures in place which are detailed below. We want to ensure that while Covid 19 restrictions are in still place you are still able to fully enjoy your excursions with us and we are of course hopeful of further relaxation of rules as the pandemic danger recedes.

Throughout this pandemic period and now in this transition as we return to normal operation it is very important that we all follow government guidelines to protect our passengers, our staff and anyone else that we may come into contact with as we carry out our day excursions. As such please ensure you follow this guide to help us keep everyone safe.

‘Comfort Stop’ and Coach Cleaning: Our enhanced procedure includes cleaning of all floors, seats and glass surfaces; mopping with disinfectant of all floor surfaces; disinfectant wiping of dash areas, driver controls and handles. It also includes cleaning all handrails, hand grabs, seat belt buckles, armrests and floors. It also includes vehicle anti-viral fogging on a weekly basis.

How do I protect myself and my fellow passengers?
The fundamentals of staying safe are still, that you wash hands frequently, at every opportunity during your day out with us; use clean tissues for coughs and sneezes; and try to avoid touching your face - we know it is difficult!

The following procedures comply with World Health Organisation guidelines and with the latest government guidelines. The transmission of Coronavirus is primarily through people touching surfaces contaminated by the virus and then transferring that contamination to their mouth, eyes or nose. There is also a possibility of breathing in droplets expelled by another person when in close face to face contact. The key thing is not to be too close to people for more than a short amount of time. When around other people the biggest risk of infection is people in close ‘face to face’ positions.

We have conducted an in-depth risk assessment and can provide assurance and mitigation of these concerns. Our normal front facing seating arrangements avoids ‘face to face’ proximity and the physical barrier of the high-backed seats, plus the use of face coverings, masks or visors will all help to ensure maximum mitigation of the dangers and maximum safety. Here are further guidelines for your safety;

1. Firstly, please be sure that you are well and in good health during the week prior to your excursion. If you feel any of the symptoms of Covid: 19, for example, tiredness, cough, high temperature, loss of sense of smell; please contact us immediately so that considerations can be taken and action agreed. We would also encourage you to take a Lateral Flow Test in the three days prior to your excursion. These kits can be easily obtained from the larger testing stations, most pharmacies and through the post if ordered via the GOV.UK website:- (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/)
2. You may be joining our excursion on board one of our feeder services; this may be a car, minibus, or mini-coach. The vehicle will be clean, safe and sanitised and capacity will be reduced in order to provide for social distancing. Your driver may be wearing a mask.
3. When you arrive at our premises, you will be assisted by our staff. They will be wearing face masks. Our ‘Comfort Stop’ toilet facilities will be available; please wash your hands of course and maintain social distancing whenever possible while using the facilities and while waiting to board.
4. You will be subject to a temperature check prior to boarding. It is generally accepted that 36.1C (97F) to 37.2C (99F) is the normal range for our bodies. Passengers with a high temperature will tested again and if need be, requested not to travel for the benefit of other passengers and will receive a full refund from us, less a relevant administration charge.
5. Please wear a face covering when boarding and during the journey, preferably your own, however our driver will also have some spare masks available. Face visors instead of masks are acceptable on our coaches. For your comfort you are of course allowed to remove your face covering while eating and drinking on board, otherwise please ensure that your mouth and nose are covered. Please note that the government have laid down exemptions to this rule, therefore you may see passengers not wearing face coverings. If you are concerned about wearing a mask and would like to see details of exemptions, please contact us.
6. You will be asked to board just a few minutes before your departure time, in order to minimise the time that passengers spend on the coach once boarded. Please try to maintain social distancing wherever possible, as you gather and when approaching and speaking with our driver. Our driver will sanitise his hands with anti-bacterial gel prior to and after handling any bags or mobility aids like wheelie walkers and scooters.
7. Our driver will have anti-bacterial gel available and you will be requested to sanitise your hands prior to boarding. Please also note that the toilet on board the coach will not be available while these measures are in place. However, rest assured that no journey will be longer than 2 hours without a comfort stop.
8. As detailed above, we are now seating passengers on every forward-facing seat. Therefore, you may find that you are seated across the aisle from someone who is not in your household or who you are travelling with. Furthermore, the mitigations listed in this document enables us to seat two separate customers on a double seat, provided both customers have had both of their vaccinations. This arrangement will be avoided if possible, however when it does occur, we will contact both customers in advance to check vaccination status and for acceptability. Should you be uncomfortable with this arrangement please contact us immediately, so that we can make alternative arrangements. Passengers who live together in the same household, and those who are travelling together will of course be seated together on a double seat. Please also note, that for the reasons above, your seat number may also have changed from when you originally booked your excursion.
9. Our coach air-conditioning systems have been upgraded to ensure the provision of clean, filtered air. Our driver may also be wearing a face mask while driving.
10. Upon arrival at the destination, our driver will put the hazard warning lights on, disembark and ask you to alight. Obviously, he or she will maintain a helpful presence but will also observe self-distancing requirements. During your visit our driver will clean all touch points on the coach.
11. Test and Trace: In accordance with this requirement, please understand that we have to provide our attraction providers with a list of the names and telephone numbers of all our customer and drivers who are travelling on each trip, which they are required to keep for a period of 21 days.
12. During your day, please wash your hands regularly and also prior to boarding the coach for the return journey. Please observe social distancing and please use the hand gel that is supplied on board.
13. With regard to the storage and exchange of such things as lost property, mobility aids etc, this will be carried out with full regard to all social distancing and hygiene requirements. 

We appreciate that these precautions and procedures are somewhat onerous, however, and most importantly, we want you to be safe and that you still have a most enjoyable day out with us! Should you require any further information or have any specific considerations and requirements then please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for your co-operation and for booking with Johnsons.