Photo: How to quickly and safely learn to drive a minibus (media.ford.com) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
In some cases, you don't even need an additional category of license to drive a minibus. But that doesn't mean you can just get in the van and hit the road. RBC-Ukraine Auto journalists talk about the peculiarities of driving a minibus compared to a passenger car.
Read about how to quickly learn to drive a minibus in the RBC-Ukraine article.
Multi-seat wagon-type vehicles are taking up more and more space in our lives. And often, a person who has only the experience of driving a family car has to get behind the wheel of a large or small minibus. What should a neophyte of small commercial transportation pay attention to first of all?
Behind the wheel of a minibus after a car
The first thing that surprises a driver who gets behind the wheel of a minibus for the first time is how similar the driving position is to a passenger car. And most small vans with a load capacity of 1.5 – 3 tons are controlled in a similar way. At the same time, there is a significant difference between a passenger car and a minibus, and it is bad that it becomes noticeable only in difficult situations when the driver is required to show maximum skill.
Dynamics. It is true that thanks to powerful high-torque engines (primarily diesels), today's minibuses often have effective acceleration. But do not rush to compare their dynamics with a passenger car, especially when your minivan is driving with a full load. Therefore, overtaking, daring exits from a secondary road and other maneuvers where you need to pick up speed in an instant will have to be calculated differently than in a passenger car.
A misleading impression. The reckless acceleration that some minivans have often provokes drivers into trouble. After all, after vigorous acceleration, any van sometimes needs to be slowed down or directed in the right direction. And here a hot, but inexperienced carrier is in danger: his massive van with a high center of gravity brakes, changes lanes and turns not as skillfully as it accelerated before. This means that the matter can end in a serious accident, in particular, with the car turning over on its side.
Maneuvers . Be prepared to practice feeling the dimensions of a minibus beforehand. After all, turning around, parking and putting the doors under loading in tight spaces will not be easy at first. Yes, large mirrors and possibly a camera will help you, but controlling the rear dimensions of a large vehicle requires special skills. In particular, more or less large minibuses have a long stern (rear overhang), which is carried to the side for a significant distance when turning. And do not forget about the upper dimension – there will be cases when you will not be able to drive somewhere – for example, through a row of gates, tree branches or small gates of a purely passenger garage.
There are many minibuses. In the world of commercial vehicles of wagon layout, the range of types, classes and models is much wider than in passenger cars. That is, having mastered, for example, a compact passenger minivan, you do not automatically become an expert in piloting 5-ton buses. And it is not only about different dimensions and maneuvering difficulties, but also about different reactions to the driver's actions. Therefore, when you have learned to drive a minibus of one class, before starting to operate a bus of another type, you will need to master some other skills.
Retention . On the one hand, minibuses are classified as commercial vehicles for a reason – these vehicles are designed for intensive use, so they are reliable, durable and long-lasting. However, this rule is valid for models that are either new or have a small, say, up to 100 – 150 thousand kilometers, mileage. And a commercial van that has already wound many kilometers on its cardan (or on the CV joint shafts) will have to be repaired, spending much more money and time. Therefore, despite the seemingly “cargo” strength of most minibuses, they should be driven with the same care as a family car.
Short
The current legislation in Ukraine allows drivers with category B in their license to drive certain types of minibuses. In particular, passenger or cargo minibuses, if their permitted maximum weight does not exceed 3,500 kg, and the number of seats, not counting the driver's seat, is no more than eight.
But even if your minibus falls under the “passenger” category in your license, do not rush to start actively transporting it right away. It is very important to learn in practice how to drive a new vehicle well, because such cars are heavy enough to cause trouble on the road due to an unfortunate driver error.
In preparing this article, materials from Autocentre , ” Commercial Vehicles “, the Traffic Regulations of Ukraine and the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic of 1968 were used.
Let us recall that RBC-Ukraine recently reported on how the wrong gasoline affects a car and how to fix the situation.