Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Travel, transport and roads
  3. Public transport
  4. Bus and coach travel

Bus and coach safety

Buses are a great way of getting around but there are certain steps you should take to make sure you have a safe journey, particularly if you are travelling at night or on your own.

Personal security

When travelling alone:

  • keep an eye on your bags
  • do not put your wallet in your back pocket
  • if you're a visitor to the area, try to keep your camera and map out of sight as much as possible

If you're travelling late at night:

  • check timetables to limit your waiting time
  • keep looking around you to make yourself less of a target for thieves
  • stay in well-lit areas in and around bus stops and stations
  • arrange to be met from the bus if possible

You can get more advice at this link:

  • Go safe 

Mobile phone safety

Take a few simple precautions to avoid having your mobile phone stolen. You can also make your phone difficult to use if it is stolen:

  • avoid talking on your mobile while walking
  • before taking out your mobile, check to see who is around and position yourself in a way that will make it difficult for thieves to approach you
  • try to be where a CCTV can see you
  • record the details of your mobile (its reference number and PIN)
  • always use the keypad lock function
  • register your mobile with the service provider
  • report a theft to the police and your mobile service provider as soon as possible

Dealing with bus crime

Bus crime can range from assaults and anti-social behaviour to vandalism and other problems, such as the behaviour of schoolchildren on school buses.

Translink is helping to tackle such crime, not only by fitting CCTV cameras, alarms and protective screens around drivers, but also by training staff to deal effectively with any incidents.

Although crime against passengers is rare on buses, if you do experience or witness such a crime you should contact the police. In an emergency call 999.

  • Reporting a crime

Accidents involving buses or coaches

The Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) is responsible for investigating all road traffic accidents.

If the police report that a collision may have been caused by a defect resulting from lack of maintenance, then the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) will be notified and will carry out an investigation of the incident.

If the collision is discovered to have been caused by a design or construction fault then DVA may instruct the manufacturer to carry out a safety recall.

 

Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Bus and coach travel

  • Access Travel Wallet
  • Bus and coach safety
  • Bus and coach services
  • Bus and train travel with a disability
  • Bus lanes
  • Bus lanes and bus priority measures locations
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): face coverings guidance
  • Free bus travel and concessions
  • Making a complaint about bus or coach services

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS