Minibus Club Article Archive

The emergency services call them RTAs, and road traffic accidents are all too common on the busy roads of the British Isles. However, RTAs are avoidable and not becoming a statistic can be a matter of nothing more complicated than the applying of a little common sense. This is especially important for a minibus driver with up to 16 other lives in his hands.

Us and Them

It’s unfortunate but unarguably true that there are some bad drivers out there. In fact, describing some of them as having fallen out of the idiot tree, hitting every branch on the way down, can be seen as a kindness in some cases. We see drivers (naturally not minibus drivers!) using mobile phones on the move, we see drivers who believe they have magic tyres; others believe they have brakes that can defy the laws of physics.

The essence of dealing with such people is to apply defensive driving techniques in your minibus. You may, for example, be waiting at a junction. A car approaches with its indicator flashing. Will he turn off? He might but he might equally be having a ’senior moment’ and is unaware his indicator is on. Should this be the case, pulling out is a way of finding out the hard way. Wait until you see the car slow and the front wheel start to point into the turn before pulling out.

Got a tailgater? The following driver who is getting too friendly may believe the rule about one car length per 10 mph doesn’t apply but we know different. Dabbing your minibus’s brake pedal to flash your brake lights might work but it’s safer to let the, er, driver, pass at the first opportunity. Beware also of undertakers, which is an appropriate term for those who attempt to overtake you on the left. These creatures of habit tend to lurk on multi-lane junctions. All you need to know is that they are there, which is what your minibus’s nearside mirror is for.

The other protagonist you need to consider is yourself. Minibus drivers are often proud of their safety record, often quite rightly so. That said, there is nothing in the rules that says you cannot make a mistake. Modern minibuses can be deceptively smooth and respectably sprightly. Fair enough but never forget you are in charge of a moving mass that, with passengers, weighs upwards of three and a half tonnes. It probably won’t accelerate like a car and is certainly unlikely to stop as quickly. Crosswinds and the passing of lorries will also affect it.

Inside Story

You’re frequently going to be at the helm of a minibus full of passengers, which is to be expected, giving that passengers are what minibuses do. The snag is that what passengers do can be an RTA waiting to happen.

The friendly passenger is a case in point. You needn’t be rude to the passenger who comes up front for a chat as you drive. Just remind him or her that as a minibus driver, you can’t be distracted. Better yet, make a rule that passengers must remain in their seats while the vehicle is in motion. Better still; remind the passengers that wearing their seatbelts is a legal requirement.

You may have a microphone, attached to a public address system in your minibus. It may be tempting to play the tour guide as you drive along but don’t. The best place for a microphone, when the minibus is moving, is in the off position.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

A minibus isn’t a car and some additional definitions, rules and regulations apply to using one. These questions and answers illustrate some of them.

What Defines a Minibus?

A minibus is a vehicle with 9 to 16 seats, not including the driver’s seat. A vehicle having more than 16 passenger seats is a coach.

Must Minibus Passengers Wear Seatbelts?

Yes, unless the minibus is old enough to not have been fitted with seatbelts. Although the legal requirement varies with factors including the age of the minibus, the number of passengers carried and the type of seats fitted, it is accepted that seatbelts should be fitted and used. Generally, if a minibus has seatbelts, they must be used. In all cases, the minibus driver must wear a seatbelt.

What is the Minibus Speed Limit?

Several speed limits apply to minibuses used in the UK, depending on various factors. On urban and residential roads, the limit is 30 mph. A minibus may travel at up to 50 mph on a single carriageway A road and at 60 mph on a dual carriageway road. The motorway speed limit is 70 mph. Minibuses registered after the 1st of January 2005 must have a speed limiter that allows them to travel at a maximum of 62mph.
A minibus towing a trailer is restricted to 60 mph on motorways and isn’t allowed to use the outside lane for overtaking.

What is a Section 19 Minibus Permit?

Normally, using a minibus for hire or reward means having a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence. However, a Section 19 permit allows organisations like volunteer groups to make a small charge for vehicle operating costs without the need for a PCV licence. Such a permit is valid only in the UK.
Drivers of Section 19 permit minibuses may be volunteers or they may be paid. Those providing a non profit-making bus service may apply for a Section 22 permit, provided the driver is a volunteer and receive no payment.
Where a school or other educational establishment provides a free minibus service to pupils or students, a Section 19 permit isn’t usually required.

What about using a minibus in Europe?

Whether the minibus is used for hire or reward or offers a free service, the following must be carried in Europe.

A waybill or an own account certificate.

A European accident form.

A valid minibus insurance certificate.

A valid registration document.

A GB sticker or EU type number plates with a GB designation. Either of these must be prominently displayed on a permanent basis.

While regulations can vary from country to country in the EU, it is wise, and may be legally necessary to carry the following.

A full set of spare bulbs for the minibus.

A reflective safety jacket or waistcoat, which must be kept in the minibus’s cab.

A reflective warning triangle.

A fire extinguisher.

Certain EU countries require an insurance green card. A green card doesn’t provide insurance cover in its own right but proves that the minimum legal requirement for third party liability insurance is being met in the countries for which a green card is required.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.

A section 19 permit for a minibus comes with rules, which must be observed. The following questions and answers illustrate some of these rules.

Who May Drive?

Permit bus drivers must

Be at least 21 years old.

Have passed a Category B (or car) driving test before the 1st of January 1997, therefore gaining automatic entitlement to D1 categorisation, which allows them to drive a minibus with 9 to 16 passenger seats that is not used for hire or reward.

Drivers who passed their test before this date may drive such a minibus of any weight, provided they hold a permit. Category D1 licence holders (non-hire or reward) can renew their licence if they can pass the compulsory medical to meet the necessary health standard.

If a minibus driver with a D1 licence fails to renew their licence at age 70 but retains their category B (or car) licence they may still drive a 9 to 16-seat minibus if they meet the following conditions. The same applies to minibus drivers who passed their car test on or after the 1st of January 1997.

Such drivers must

Have held their Category B licence for no less than two years.

Must receive no payment or benefit other than out-of-pocket expenses.

Drive minibuses of no more than 3.5 tonnes gross weight, unless they are used to carry disabled passengers. In this instance, the gross weight rises to 4.25 tonnes, including the weight of any specialised equipment for disabled passengers.

Be able to pass the medical test mentioned above if they are 70 or older.

May Drivers Receive Payment?

If they hold a full PCV licence, yes. Minibus drivers who don’t may be paid if they have a licence granted before the 1st of January 1997 and have a full Category D1 (not for hire or reward) entitlement.

May Wheelchair Users be Carried?

Yes, provided such passengers are carried safely. See the Department of Transport’s Code of Practice ‘The Safety of Passengers in Wheelchairs on Buses’, which is available from the Department’s Mobility Unit.

May a Permit Vehicle Be Used Abroad?

No, the Section 19 permit is only for UK use.

May a Permit Bus Provide a Local Bus Service?

No, one may only be used for the members of clients of the organisation to which the permit applies.

Do EC Drivers Hours and Tachograph Rules Apply?

Not in the UK, provided the minibus has fewer than 17 passenger seats. Such a minibus would normally have to meet UK domestic driver’s hours rules. However, if it is being used privately or has volunteer drivers, no rules apply.

What Charges Can Apply to Passengers?

Fares or contributions may be accepted provided they cover vehicle running costs, including depreciation and drivers’ wages. However, fares that regularly yield a greater income than the above expenditure negate the operation’s non profit-making status and are not permitted.

What About Minibus Insurance?

Like all motor vehicles used on the road, a vehicle operated under a permit must be covered by an insurance policy which insures against liabilities to third parties (which includes the passengers being carried in the vehicle). This is the minimum requirement.

The minibus insurer must be aware that payment is being received from passengers but that a Section 19 permit applies, exempting the minibus user from PSV Operator Licence requirements.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

Most minibus drivers are justifiably proud of the their driving skills. However, training schemes exist that can not only let drivers hone and subsequently prove their minibus skills but also let them benefit from reduced insurance premiums. In practice, the majority of minibus insurance companies recognise the two training schemes concerned and substantial savings may be made from the lesser premiums offered.

The CTA (Community Transport Association) is the UK’s leading organisation concerned with community and voluntary transport. It administers two driver training schemes that the majority of insurance companies recognise.

Drivers who passed their test before the 1st of January 1997 automatically received a D1 classification, allowing them to drive a minibus. However, those who passed their test on or after this date received a Category B, or car, licence. This restricts their driving of a minibus to an extent because they have to meet the following conditions.

The minibus may not be used for hire or reward.

The driver must be 21 or over.

The driver must have held a Category B licence for over 2 years.

If over 70, the driver must meet Category D1 health standards.

The driver may not be paid for driving the minibus.

The minibus may not weigh over 3.5 tonnes, unless specialised equipment for the carrying of disabled passengers is fitted. In such an instance, the weight limit rises to 4.25 tonnes.

A trailer may not be towed.

The minibus may only be used in the UK.

The CTA’s CommunityDriver scheme provides everything a minibus driver needs to obtain a Category D1 licence, including training by locally based tutors, the use of special learning materials and the arranging of a test at an appropriate time in a location convenient to the pupil.

The second CTA scheme is called MiDAS, which is the acronym of the Minibus Driver Training Scheme. CTA-appointed training agents, who visit organisations to assess and train minibus drivers, run this nationally-recognised scheme. It is also possible for representatives of larger organisations to take the CTA’s Driver Assessor/Trainer Assessment, or DAT for short. Passing this allows a representative to assess and train drivers.

The MiDas test is a separate exercise and is particularly comprehensive. As such, it covers a number of areas including passenger and disability awareness, the use of passenger safety and access equipment, storage equipment, and drivers’ legal requirements. Minibus driving skills to an acceptable standard are tested, and attention is paid to general defensive driving, the driver’s personal safety and, of course, passenger safety. Lastly, roadside inspections and breakdown and accident procedures are examined.

The CTA’s schemes don’t just reduce insurance premiums. A MiDAS certificate is good for the image of the organisation or person possessing one, and passenger comfort and safety are improved. Last but not least, the certificate holder’s confidence increases, with a consequent reduction in stress at the wheel of a minibus.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.

What is covered - and not covered - by a minibus insurance policy can be found in the small print. You should always pay attention to this when buying insurance and here, we can look at a typical minibus insurance policy summary. In this context, ‘typical’ doesn’t mean ‘representative’. Insurance policy details can differ significantly but the following represents what you can expect to see. For the sake of simplicity, we’ll call the three types of insurance cover by shortened names. So, ‘Comp’ means comprehensive cover, ‘TPFandT’ means third party, fire and theft cover, and ‘TPO’ refers to third party only cover.

Lets begin by examining what the minibus insurance cover might pay for in the event of a claim. Comp, TPFandT and TPO share coverage of the following in our example. Liability for death or injury to third parties, Liability for damage to other people’s property and legal costs incurred with the insurer’s consent in connection with a claim against the policy are all covered. The same goes for driving abroad, cover being available for most European countries. In our example, the policy booklet would furnish you with the specific details.

Comprehensive minibus insurance is the most costly choice but this is with good reason. In our example, Comp covers loss of or damage to the vehicle, plus replacement locks, accident recovery and an approved repairer network. These three elements are covered in a TPFandT policy, but only if a claim is for loss through fire or theft. A TPO policy would not cover these eventualities. However, Comp covers additions including medical expenses up to 100 pounds per person, personal effects up to 100 pounds, and replacements for a broken windscreen and/or windows.

Now for the options in our typical minibus insurance policy summary. Additional public liability cover in the course of a fare paying journey, AA-provided breakdown assistance, and European breakdown assistance are among the options on offer, as is uninsured loss recovery from the DAS. These options are available with all three types of cover.

Like any insurance policy, our minibus insurance has exclusions and limitations. The first is the ‘excess’, the amount the insured pays towards any claim. This, generally an agreed figure, can vary depending on certain circumstances in a claim. Limitations can be against loss or damage if the ignition keys have been left in the minibus, as well as loss of use, depreciation, wear and tear and so forth. Similarly, ‘inappropriate use’ is frowned upon, and further limitations can apply if the minibus was carrying high category hazardous goods or is used in a hazardous location. Loss or damage associated with acts of terrorism attract comparable limitations.

As is clearly evident, our minibus insurance policy summary is just this, a precis of the insurance cover. The full story lies in the full policy document, which will give you all the details you need. Here, the insurance policy summary has done its work, in describing the key points. However, studying the full extent of the insurance and the limitations that apply to it is good advice. Armed with the information in its fullest form, you can buy minibus insurance with confidence.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

What’s small and highly specialised? The industry that offers conversions of standard minibuses for use by disabled passengers. An increasingly caring society has worked hard to cater for the disabled, wheelchair users included, and this is reflected in the output of this small but dedicated band of expert companies.

Before examining the surprisingly comprehensive range of equipment on offer, let’s look at the recipient - the archetypal minibus. The products of Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Peugeot, Vauxhall and Volkswagen have one facet in common. Whether they have a short or long wheelbase, a high top or a sliding side door, they are all flat-floored vans. More to the point, each can be bought as a minibus. With a few additions to the specification, each can become a disabled minibus.

The first aspect that warrants consideration is arguably the most important. Access is a hugely important factor for the disabled user, whether wheelchair-bound or not. For the ambulant disabled person, the simplest addition to a standard minibus could be a foot-operated slide-out step, fitted below the minibus’s side door. The wheelchair user obviously needs more and this is where the range of options begins to broaden.

The simplest addition is a folding ramp, to be used at the rear of the minibus. Such items are usually light in weight for easy handling and lock positively onto anchor points on the vehicle’s floor. Some ramp mechanisms are two-piece and refinements exist to make using them as easy as possible. For example, a load lamp may be specified to illuminate the ramp for loading and unloading a wheelchair-bound passenger after dark. It’s also possible to use a special winch to ease the loading/unloading process. Such a winch is usually electrically powered, by the minibus’s battery.

In some instances, particularly in a long-wheelbase minibus, the seating layout and floor space specification permits the addition of an hydraulic tail lift. Often, a base minibus with air suspension is used. This allows the vehicle itself to be lowered, making access easier still. Tail lift options can include an under floor lifting mechanism, or a sophisticated ‘Power Stow and Deploy’.

The internal layout of a disabled minibus may work on what we might call a mix and match system. Such a conversion uses a proven floor system, such as ‘Innotrax®’. This allows the minibus’s seats to be quickly and easily fixed or demounted. So, for example, a minibus might be set up to carry 15 passengers and five wheelchairs.

One further aspect of a disabled minibus is of immense importance. Being wheeled, a wheelchair must obviously be restrained when the minibus is in motion. This is also catered for by the floor system, which boasts four-point wheelchair securement. An integrated three-point inertia reel seat belt, attached to the same strong points that secure the wheelchair, is used to keep the wheelchair user safe in his or her chair.

As the above begins to show, a disabled minibus can have a specification ranging from the simple, to the highly complicated. The extent of modification specifically for disabled use is dependent on requirements. However, the materials and practices used may be tailored to those requirements, in virtually any popular base minibus.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.

Minibuses give flexibility and versatility that public transport providers simply cannot offer. This makes them particularly valuable for use by charitable organisations. Such non profit-making organisations can benefit from the cost savings associated with specialist minibus insurance. Here are the details charities need to know.

The three specific types of minibus insurance have their pros and cons. Third Party Only insurance is the minimum legal requirement. Such insurance covers liability for injury to, or the death of third parties, along with liability for damage to other people’s property, and legal costs related to claims against the policy.

Third Party, Fire and Theft cover comes next in the minibus insurance hierarchy. The benefits of this are fairly obvious. Should the minibus be stolen or be fire damaged, insurance for these eventualities is included.

The third and final type of minibus insurance is Comprehensive cover. This, though it’s the most expensive, is the most popular with charities that use a minibus. Comprehensive minibus insurance may provide replacements for personal effects lost in an accident or through theft. Post-accident medical expenses may be met, and cover against damage to the minibus’s windscreen and windows may be offered. A specialist minibus insurance broker will be able to detail what is covered and can offer a bespoke policy that caters for a customer’s needs.

Often, charity minibus insurance policies carry additional benefits. These can include a provision to pay by instalments rather than in a single lump sum. Post-accident and/or breakdown recovery may be included, as might roadside breakdown assistance, from a known provider capable of dealing with a minibus. A 24-hour helpline, operating from a year-round UK centre that can be called at no charge is a desirable bonus. Also, the option of uninsured loss recovery, including cover for a lawyer, legal costs and vehicle hire costs, is well worth seeking. Again, a specialised minibus insurance provider will be happy to advise you.

Having learned what to expect from a charity minibus insurance provider, it is necessary for you to understand what the provider will expect from you. Apart from meeting the expected driving licence requirements for using a minibus, the charity will need to provide one of two permits. In order to prove to the provider that the minibus to be insured is in fact to be put to charitable and non profit-making use, the charity will have to have a Section 19 or Section 22 permit. Charities whose activities are seen to benefit a community may apply for a Section 19 permit. Under this, minibus drivers may be volunteers or may receive payment, and a small charge for vehicle operating costs may be levied by the charity.

Remaining with charity minibus insurance requirements, a minibus that is used to offer a non profit-making bus service needs a Section 22 permit. For this kind of permit, the driver may not be paid for his or her services; he or she must be a volunteer. Lastly, a minibus operator running a service on a profit-making basis must acquire a PCV/PSV licence.

As can be seen, minibus insurance specific to a charity is slightly different from other kinds of insurance. However, with the aid of a specialised broker, finding such insurance and meeting the permit requirements are easily done.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

Regardless of whether you’re driving a minibus, a car, or even a motorbike, the roads in Britain and on the Continent can be dangerous. To say so isn’t scaremongering because it is a fact that accidents happen. The following hints and tips will not only help you stay safe and have successful outings, they will also avoid your having to make unnecessary claims on your minibus insurance.

There are legal requirements associated with driving, from being sober to driving with due care and attention. There are also non-legal requirements that are at least as important, and not all apply solely to the use of a minibus. We’ve all seen motorway signs saying ‘Tiredness kills, take a break’. These are displayed for a reason. You may, as a minibus driver, feel that your ability to drive for long periods is faultless. These can be famous last words, especially as tiredness is insidious, it can creep up on you. If even remotely drowsy, let alone sleepy, do as the signs say and take a break. There’s no shame in admitting you could do with a rest and there’s nothing heroic about ploughing into the back of an articulated lorry or finding yourself clattering along a crash barrier at 60 miles per hour. Pull up at a motorway services, have some coffee and a snooze if necessary. This is obviously doubly important if you’ve a full complement of passengers. Bear in mind that you should always plan rest breaks into your journey, for your sake as well as that of your passengers.

Minibuses have their own requirements, over and above those of cars. Your minibus may have car-like attributes, including power-assisted steering and brakes, comfortable seats and a great heater, if not air conditioning. It is, however, bigger and heavier than a car. Consequently, it can’t accelerate as fast as a car, negotiate corners as proficiently and stop as quickly as a car can. You must allow for these factors, and not only in the more obvious senses. For example, a minibus has a much bigger side profile than a car. In side winds, and in the slipstream of a big lorry, it will be affected much more profoundly. This can be allowed for but it should never be forgotten.

Similar parameters apply to manoeuvering a minibus. Your windscreen, side glass, rear glass and mirrors may be spotless but you still have to allow for the size of the vehicle you’re handling. This is especially so when pedestrians are about. You may be unfortunate enough to touch a roadside obstacle, or even another vehicle, when manoeuvering. This will dent your pride rather more than it dents your minibus. Should you be unlucky enough to touch a pedestrian, you could be faced with something far more serious. A minibus fitted with reversing sensors and even a reversing warning is desirable. It’s more desirable still to have someone keeping a weather eye on what’s to the rear. In any case, do not reverse if there’s any doubt at all. Be safe before it’s too late, rather than sorry after the event.

These simple tips will not only save lives, not to mention preserving your dignity, they can also save a claim on your minibus insurance. Remember that, following an accident or incident like those mentioned here, there’s only one way the insurance premium can go. Here’s a clue: it isn’t down!

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.

We all know minibuses can’t fly but if you drive a minibus with passengers aboard, you have as much responsibility for your passengers’ safety as any airline pilot. In some respects you have more; an airline pilot can’t knock anyone down at a road junction because his brakes don’t work! Getting into the habit of making the five following checks pre-journey is easy and should be your standard practice.

1: Windscreen
Is it clean? Is it chipped? Is it cracked? You can’t see properly through a grimy windscreen in any conditions. A chipped or cracked minibus windscreen may be repairable but not after a speed bump or pothole has caused it to shatter. Keep it in tip-top condition and remember to check there’s enough washer fluid and that the wiper blades are perfect.

2: Mirrors
In some minibuses, the mirrors represent all of your rear vision. They can’t help if they’re dirty, chipped, cracked or maladjusted. Don’t forget that the mirrors can be bumped out of alignment when your minibus is parked. Don’t move a millimetre until your mirrors are 100 percent in every respect.

3: Lights
A light that isn’t working isn’t a light at all. Similarly, dirty lighting is inefficient. It only takes a few minutes to clean and check them. Also, carry spares bulbs (obligatory in most Continental countries) and fuses. Minibus lights operate in the same way as car lights and they need just as much attention.

4: Tyres
Squeezing the last few miles out of your tyre’s treads may be praiseworthy but your minibus insurance company may disagree about this. You need a minimum of 1.6mm of tread around the entire circumference of the tyres to be legal. Tread wear indicators are moulded in at the 2mm level and if these are showing level with the tread, you’re tyres are beyond a safe limit – 3mm all round is the practicable minimum tread level for a minibus.
Examine the tyres for splits, bulges, tread damage and sidewall cracking. Any and all of these can put you at risk of a blowout. Make sure the tyres at the minibus maker’s recommended pressure and don’t forget the spare - it may be needed in a hurry and if it isn’t checked, you’ll be in trouble.

5: Fuel
A minibus that’s run out of fuel obviously won’t be going anywhere, at least until the breakdown service arrives. Roadside fuel starvation is an embarrassing way of admitting that you were too lazy/preoccupied/forgetful (delete as applicable) to put in enough fuel for the entire journey.

Remember that servicing, on a yearly basis at least, is also your responsibility. Have servicing carried out by a reputable garage and don’t forget safety checks on the suspension, brakes and steering of your minibus. If you fail to look after your minibus, you are failing to look after your passengers. If the vehicle is unroadworthy, it is your fault and your minibus insurance company would be within its rights to deny any claim arising in consequence.

Article Resource

If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance look no further than The Minibus Club. Why not visit their website to receive a free online quote for minibus insurance.

Minibus insurance, like any other vehicle insurance, generally isn’t amusing. However, some insurance claims can’t help but raise a titter, like these did.

1: Weather Eye

This winter’s appalling weather prompted a driver to call a taxi (it may have been a minibus), for safety’s sake. When the taxi arrived, it skidded into his car. Oops!

2: A Sense of Duty

How about the car that made a citizen’s arrest? Thieves reckoned a Land Rover was the ideal car to steal for ram raiding. They aimed their ill-gotten transport at the doors of a jeweller’s shop. The trusty Land Rover hit the roller shutter door, climbed it, and fell on its tail. As the vehicle had wedged itself tightly in the doorway, the thieves couldn’t open the doors. When the police arrived in their marked minibus, they freed them - and then arrested them.

3: Woolly Jumper

A driver and his passenger got a shock when driving home from the pub. Something hit their car’s roof with a huge bang, denting it enough to hit the occupant’s heads. The car was braking hard and something slid down off the roof, landed on the bonnet, jumped off and ran away. It was a sheep, which had taken a leap of faith from a transporter lorry that had been involved in a collision with a minibus.

4: Dogged Driving

One man and his dog went to - the local shop for a paper. The man came back, newspaper in hand, to find the minibus - and the dog - were nowhere in sight. When asked, a passer-by said he’d just seen the minibus, being driven by a large dog. Which proves that if you leave a dog untended in a vehicle, it’s lead can become entangled with the handbrake - and release it. Fortunately, a parked car stopped the minibus before its canine commander had gone too far.

5: Nutkin Ventured

What is more enjoyable than a nice drive in an open car, through the sunlit woods? Usually nothing is but here, the car’s lady driver got a surprise visit. A careless squirrel fell out of a tree into her lap. The startled driver was so taken aback by this and the squirrel’s frantic escape attempts that she drove into a tree. A breakdown patrol minibus took the crestfallen lady home; the squirrel was last seen scrambling rapidly up the tree.

6: Rising Damp

The nice part of camper van ownership is that you can pull up and take a snooze in the back whenever you like. One Volkswagen Minibus owner did just this but made the mistake of parking on a beach. He woke to the sound of someone’s hammering on the window; he survived but the rising tide claimed his pride and joy. VW went down - happily without all hands.

7: One into Two Won’t Go

Two non minibus-driving motorists wanted the same parking space and they both went for it at once. In doing this, they got themselves firmly wedged against neighbouring parked cars and a minibus. Neither motorist could move and neither could open a door, they were stuck fast. The assembled bystanders found it hugely entertaining!

Article Resource
If you’d like to save money on your minibus insurance, look no further than The Minibus Club. Request a FREE quote now by calling our hotline on 0845 609 0323 or visit our website at www.minibusclub.co.uk.