Empty vehicle sign: Ensure no passengers are left on board

Human services organizations and senior care facilities regularly use vans, shuttles and buses to transport children, the elderly and special needs clients. While it is hard to fathom, some passengers can accidentally be left on board at the end of a trip. In some cases, organizations do not know the passenger has been left on board until their guardian reports them missing. This can happen when passengers fall asleep or are small and hard to see over seats in front of them. Children may also think it is a game to hide from the driver.

Leaving a passenger on board for even short periods of time can be harmful or deadly, particularly in extreme hot or cold weather conditions, or when a passenger needs their medications or nourishment. Being abandoned can also cause severe stress and anguish for the passenger and they could injure themselves trying to leave the vehicle on their own.

It is important that a driver inspect their vehicle anytime they leave their vehicle for any length of time and at the end of each shift to ensure that it is empty of passengers. To ensure this inspection takes place a “This vehicle is empty” sign should be placed at the rear of the vehicle during the inspection.

Utilizing the empty sign

1. Maintain a sign that reads “This Vehicle is Empty” in each passenger vehicle. The sign should be kept in the front of the vehicle in a sleeve or envelop when the vehicle is occupied with passengers.
2. At the end of a trip/shift, when the vehicle should be empty and void of passengers, the driver carries the sign to the back of the vehicle, checking each row of seats as they go and then hang the sign in the back window.
3. At the beginning of each run the driver walks to the back of the vehicle, checking the rows again, and removes the sign from the back window, storing it in the front of the vehicle.

Best practices

• Educate drivers on the importance of following this procedure and the hazards of leaving a passenger on board.
• Place the wording “This Vehicle is Empty” on both sides of the sign so those outside the vehicle can see it has been checked for passengers
• Make sure the sign is well constructed and/or laminated and that the window mounting method is secure. Velcro is often used.
• Only the driver should place the sign. They should not delegate the responsibility to a passenger or other person.
• Ensure the sign is in the vehicle by adding it to your pre-and post-trip inspection forms.
• Managers should check all vehicles at the end of a shift to ensure drivers have used the signs. Drivers should be held accountable for not using the signage.

Click here for a sample sign.