Drivers Code

All Charika chauffeurs obey a strict Sri Lanka Drivers’ Code which is outlined below. Display of this code in the vehicle is compulsory.

Passenger Safety

Passenger safety is the no.1 priority. This means:
Driving responsibly and within speed limits at all times.
Ensuring vehicle is regularly serviced with special attention to legality of tyres.
Checking vehicle daily.
Mandatory fitting of seat belts in all vehicles except safari jeeps.
Avoiding itineraries with excessive driving hours.
Avoid honking as much as possible and should use light-horn; even if there is a delay of one or two minutes.
No alcohol during working hours.
Appropriate rest stops.
Mobile phone calls occasionally need to be made and taken – but these should not be answered while vehicle in motion and should be strictly restricted to essential calls only.
Drivers should carry a basic first aid kit and have basic first-aid knowledge.

Tips and Gifts

We encourage our customers, whenever they wish, to offer drivers or chauffeur-guides tips or gifts for satisfactory services: a basic guideline is anywhere upwards of $15 per day. 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.

Itineraries and Flexibility

Our drivers should:

Arrive at least 15 minutes before scheduled departure time (excepting extreme circumstances, such as major road accidents).
Maintain good standards of appearance, appropriate to the journey and climate, including personal hygiene.
Provide a mobile phone number (where possible).
Discuss suitable starting times with passengers for each day’s itinerary and be responsive to the occasional need for last-minute changes.
Respond flexibly to occasional requests for route changes or additional excursions, if these do not compromise safety and/or acceptable arrival times. (Note: These may incur an extra cost which the client should pay direct to the driver).
Feel free to suggest interesting excursions, but always immediately respect the fact that "no" means precisely that.

Purchases and Commission

We, or any ground-agent company that we may use, neither seek nor obtain any commissions from any shop that we might recommend, or where our customers might shop. We strongly oppose the dishonest aspects of ‘commission culture’, which can lead travellers to receive bad advice. When we offer shopping fact-sheets, we do so purely as a helpful guide. We recognise, however, that drivers may earn commission from some purchases by tourists and accept that this has long been common practice. This arrangement, when it exists, should be clearly understood by all. Drivers should:

Only recommend places that they truly believe are of good standard.
Respond briefly and honestly if asked if they are receiving commission or if the outlet is owned by a relative or friend.
Never suggest, under any circumstances, that any shop, factory or product is recommended by our company – we can give no guarantee.
Always advise travellers that they are shopping at their own risk and that, if items have to be shipped, they are clear about any additional charges that might be imposed.
Ensure, where possible, that travellers have necessary receipts and contact numbers in case of problems with their purchase.

Relationship with Fellow Passengers

Drivers and passengers should seek to develop a relationship appropriate to each individual.
Passengers are obliged to advise Charika Holodays about driver concerns immediately under Complaints Procedure.
Driver should offer general advice - when required.
Drivers should respect passengers’ wish for quiet times when such a wish is clearly communicated.
Drivers must respect passengers' concerns about driving speed if they express concern.
All parties must recognise the right to mutual politeness and respect.