Are bus drivers on tours allowed to provide a commentary?

Question

On coach tours in Britain which only have a driver and not a guide, is it against the law for the driver to provide a commentary on the areas passed through.

Answer 1

good question. I don't think its illegal but if its London or in another slow moving traffic situation then i don't see the harm personally however i see your point! happy to answer your question!

Answer 2

I don't know if it is against the law but it SHOULD be because the driver should be concentrating on driving. The tours that I have seen have a separate person standing by the driver and they have a microphone and give a commentary on places you pass.

Answer 3

Very few bus tours will risk doing that now that there is a clamp down on "driving without due care and attention" which has made it illegal to drive holding a mobile phone.

And quite right too, the driver should be driving and there should be a second person giving a commentary.

Answer 4

Not illegal if the microphone is hands-free.

BUT, if an accident occured whilst using the microphone, the driver still runs the risk of being charged with the offence of "driving without due care and attention".

Answer 5

I should think that they'd have to concentrate on driving and have somebody else doing a commentary. Most of the bus and coach drivers in Britain are men and their brains aren't made to do two things at the same time so it wouldn't be safe for them to do a commentary themselves.