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We believe that our pool of drivers is among the finest
in the country – possessing a wealth of experience,
knowledge and enthusiasm. To help uphold those standards,
all drivers undertaking Red Dot transfers (except in emergency)
will have a copy of the Red Dot drivers’ code.
Passenger safety:
Passenger safety is the no 1 priority. This means:
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Driving responsibly
at all times. |
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Ensuring vehicle is regularly
serviced. |
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Checking vehicle daily. |
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Mandatory fitting of front seat
belts. |
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Avoiding itineraries with excessive
driving hours. |
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No alcohol during working hours. |
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Appropriate rest stops. |
Note: Official drivers' quarters in a minority of hotels can be inadequate or non-existent. Our commitment to responsible travel means that, in these few cases, we make modest provision for drivers' quarters (US$15 per night). You will be advised of this at the time of booking. This commitment upholds basic minimum standards for our valued team of drivers as well as treating your safety seriously.
Compulsory security checks:
Red Dot follows these procedures on all its transport
for the additional safeguards of its clients and drivers.
These safety checks are compulsory:
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Transport must be
locked if ever unmanned. |
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Luggage must only be loaded
into vehicles by clients, Red Dot representatives
or employees of the hotel/villa. |
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Clients should pack suitcase
themselves and keep supervised at all times after
packing, or store in official hotel areas. |
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Transport must be routinely checked
before every journey or part-journey. |
Relationship with fellow passengers:
Drivers and passengers should seek to develop a relationship
appropriate to each individual. This means:
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Acting as a tour
guide – only when required. |
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Offering general advice –
only when required. |
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Respecting passengers’
wish for quiet times. |
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That all parties recognise the
right to mutual politeness and respect. |
Tips and gifts:
Red Dot encourages its customers, whenever they
wish, to offer drivers tips or gifts for satisfactory
services. Tipping drivers is accepted practice, and it
is especially beneficial on long tours when drivers may
be away from home for long periods. However, drivers must
under no circumstances request a tip or gift for work
undertaken on a Red Dot itinerary.
Itineraries and flexibility:
Red Dot drivers should:
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Arrive at least 15
minutes before scheduled departure time (excepting
extreme circumstances, such as major road accidents). |
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Provide a mobile phone number,
where possible. |
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Discuss suitable starting times
with passengers for each day’s itinerary and
be responsive to the occasional need for last-minute
changes. |
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Respond flexibly to occasional
requests for route changes or additional excursions,
if these do not compromise safety and acceptable
arrival times. (Note: These may incur an extra cost). |
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Feel free to offer interesting
excursions, but always immediately respect the fact
that "no" means precisely that. |
Purchases and commission:
Red Dot, or any ground-agent company that it might use,
does not seek or obtain any commissions from any shops
that it might recommend or where its customers might shop.
We strongly oppose the most dishonest aspects of the "commission
culture," which can lead travellers to receive bad
advice. When we offer shopping fact-sheets, we do so purely
as a helpful guide about where to shop. We recognise,
however, that drivers may earn commission from some purchases
by holidaymakers and accept that this has long been common
practice. This arrangement, when it exists, should be
clearly understood by all. Drivers should:
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Only recommend places
that they truly believe are of good standard. |
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Respond briefly and honestly
if asked if they are receiving commission or if
the outlet is owned by a relative or friend. |
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Never suggest, under any circumstances,
that any shop, factory or product is recommended
by Red Dot. Red Dot gives no guarantees. |
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Always advise travellers that
they are shopping at their own risk and that, in
the case of items that have to be shipped, they
are clear about any additional charges that might
be imposed. |
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Ensure, where possible, that
travellers have necessary receipts and contact numbers
in case of problems with their purchase. |
Additional support:
Red Dot drivers can assist further by:
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Acting as a go-between
between clients and Red Dot agents in the event
of problems or complaints. |
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Assisting with hotel check-in
and check-outs. |
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Advising on minor problems. |
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Advising Red Dot on newly-discovered
hotels or changes to known hotels. |
Red Dot Tours Ltd, March 2007.
Our customer
feedback pages tell just how highly our drivers
are regarded. They can help make your holiday in Sri Lanka
that extra bit special.
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