Humour - Don't pick on a bus!

johnfarquhar74

joolsybools wrote: »

"Many of the rules in the Code are legal requirements, <snip>

and, was this in reference to my previous post?
The highway code is nothing more than a booklet offering road users ettiquette with any points that are actually a legal printed the afore mentioned bold 'must/must not' etc.
For those that enjoy other road going pursuits there are other recognised printed material out there that offers just the same advice but in a different dust jacket.
Fact of the matter is, people look upon the Highway Code as being the only literature out there on road use, it's not. Further more who here regularly keeps up to date with the continuous changes the HC has added, anyone since passing their test?
But, back to point, if a car is approaching a parked bus, or is alongside a parked bus, that parked bus cannot just pull out into the flow of traffic (indicators are neither here nor there). I'll think you'll find the spirit of the rule 223 is when there is a situation of queued traffic next to a bus wishing to pull away from a stance, NOT when traffic is at road speed down it's offside, in that situation the bus has to wait until there is a suitable gap to pull in to.

worried_jim

Absolutely p1ssed myself at those youtube clips. Funniest thread I've read in ages !

cyclonebri1

johnfarquhar74 wrote: »

and, was this in reference to my previous post?
The highway code is nothing more than a booklet offering road users ettiquette with any points that are actually a legal printed the afore mentioned bold 'must/must not' etc.
For those that enjoy other road going pursuits there are other recognised printed material out there that offers just the same advice but in a different dust jacket.
Fact of the matter is, people look upon the Highway Code as being the only literature out there on road use, it's not. Further more who here regularly keeps up to date with the continuous changes the HC has added, anyone since passing their test?
But, back to point, if a car is approaching a parked bus, or is alongside a parked bus, that parked bus cannot just pull out into the flow of traffic (indicators are neither here nor there). I'll think you'll find the spirit of the rule 223 is when there is a situation of queued traffic next to a bus wishing to pull away from a stance, NOT when traffic is at road speed down it's offside, in that situation the bus has to wait until there is a suitable gap to pull in to.

Agree in total, and I did recently buy a new copy of the highway code, 40 years after I passed my 1st test, which kind of proves you point;).

The highlighted bit is exactly my take too, unfortunately is does seem to escape both car and bus drivers:)

Mr_Oink

theatretony wrote: »

What gets me is when buses pull out when you are actually parallel with the bus. They do not even know you are there, and you have to slam on because they do not check their mirrors....

I think many folk have had that happen to them, myself included - and I posed that question to said bus driver who offered the following explanation:

The speed at which a bus pulls away/picks up is really poor and you are actually planning for where any passing car will be in around 3-5 seconds time. Normally that would be some 30-50 yards ahead of you. Some car drivers are a bit timid and scare easily. You can spot them as they hit the brakes and horn because you have moved an inch in preparation for the large gap trailing them. Some can't see the bigger picture.

Which had some merit, but did not explain the 'checking of mirrors' you would expect. But the answer for that came after:

Take a look at the mirrors on your average Stagecoach bus. This stinking, tight Scottish mong {note: I assume he meant Brian Souter - Stagecoach owner} seems to think that two cheap 8 inch plastic (yes, plastic - not glass) mirrors will give you high quality,all round visibility. Some days - if the bus has been washed - you may just be able to make out some shapes. The only time you'll find a Stagecoach bus with suitable mirrors is on a training vehicle used for the test.

At first I thought 'rubbish - these are vehicles carrying people - they would need to have really good safety equipment and decent, multiple mirrors are just a small part of it'. But as I look out of my Swindon window this morning - I can confirm that the buses I see passing have single, small mirrors that look like they could indeed be made of plastic. I'm sure of one thing, they don't have mirrors like HGV's have mirrors {:eek:}scary{:eek:}

cyclonebri1

Mr_Oink wrote: »

I think many folk have had that happen to them, myself included - and I posed that question to said bus driver who offered the following explanation:

Which had some merit, but did not explain the 'checking of mirrors' you would expect. But the answer for that came after:

At first I thought 'rubbish - these are vehicles carrying people - they would need to have really good safety equipment and decent, multiple mirrors are just a small part of it'. But as I look out of my Swindon window this morning - I can confirm that the buses I see passing have single, small mirrors that look like they could indeed be made of plastic. I'm sure of one thing, they don't have mirrors like HGV's have mirrors {:eek:}scary{:eek:}

Which would be fine if only we knew the bus driver was simply pulling off and accelating at the said rate, or was about to swing out and pass a parked car in front????

Mr_Oink

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Which would be fine if only we knew the bus driver was simply pulling off and accelating at the said rate, or was about to swing out and pass a parked car in front????

I can't answer that - perhaps you could use the bus drivers special crystal ball that warns of impending doom? All PCV and HGV vehicles have them fitted - so I am told - to deal with the average "low skilled car driving retards" as Bob puts it :-)

cyclonebri1

Mr_Oink wrote: »

I can't answer that - perhaps you could use the bus drivers special crystal ball that warns of impending doom? All PCV and HGV vehicles have them fitted - so I am told - to deal with the average "low skilled car driving retards" as Bob puts it :-)

Unfortunately the bus drivers "ball that warns of impending doom" has no effect whatsoever on their driving, they carry on regardless.

Why if they knew an accident was about to happen, as in impending doom, would they just use their bulk and carry on???

Mr_Oink

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Unfortunately the bus drivers "ball that warns of impending doom" has no effect whatsoever on their driving, they carry on regardless.

Why if they knew an accident was about to happen, as in impending doom, would they just use their bulk and carry on???

Because they get a tea break to fill in an accident form - of course That's right, a cup of tea, 30 minutes off the road, a quick form to fill out then it would be time to grab another bus and finish the shift.

And that - for me - is enough to give them a wide, wide berth. I'm a money saver - I don't want to be paying out my excess and facing weeks of aggro just because I don't see why I should give way to a bus (which will, probably, be turning off or stopping another hundred yards down the road anyway).

What scares me more than anything is Stagecoach run their own insurance company to cover buses. Perhaps because the cost and risk is too heigh for many commercial insurers? Imagine what it's like getting them to pay out!

Must get myself one of them crystal balls - they come as a plug in for the TomTom now :-)

DebtHater

Mr_Oink wrote: »

Must get myself one of them crystal balls - they come as a plug in for the TomTom now :-)

You dont need a crystal ball. That is no replacement for things such as anticipation, road planning and awareness, etc.

Bus drivers are told not to rush, even if they are mega late, better late than never at all!

So if you take it easy, and concentrate on the road ahead and make sure your tail doesnt swing out and hit a pedestrian/car, you'll be fine.

Mr_Oink

DebtHater wrote: »

So if you take it easy, and concentrate on the road ahead and make sure your tail doesnt swing out and hit a pedestrian/car, you'll be fine.

Gee, I'd need a long car for that to be a concern.......