Bus fare refund - driver caused accident

*Kat*

You dont know that it was the bus drivers fault. Gosh. My SO is a bus driver and he puts up with a shitload of crap from people like you. I would've told you to EFF OFF.

biggrizz

Rossy. wrote: »

I have my PCV license

I have been on the buses since i was 18 and have driven everything froma route master to bendy buses

I now work in the radio room as a route controller and driving hours are part of my job

A driver can drive for up to 5 1/2 hours but then he must take a break of 40 minutes

A driver cannot drive for more than 10 hours total driving time in one day (although their shift may be longer)

they also have to have 10 hours off between shifts, but this can be reduced to 8 1/2 hours 3 days a week

they can also only drive for 13 out of 14 days

And just to add, a bus driver is not allowed to reverse a PSV vehicle on the road without supervision from either a company official or the police

I've done it, got the t-shirt and it's a job thats much harder than most think.. Not only do you get pressure to run on time by the controller (my job now ironically), you also get pure carp from other road users and the actual dimwits that take the bus

I hated it and honestly i wouldn't talk to anyone once they boarded my bus.. It sound's ignorant but honestly until you do the job you'll never understand how hard it is

hope that helps

I also am a pcv driver and you can only drive for 4.5 hours before you must have a 45 mins break. The break can be split in that you can take a 15 min break in the 4.5 hour driving period but you must then take the final 30 mins as soon as your driving time is finished.

mcjordi

biggrizz wrote: »

I also am a pcv driver and you can only drive for 4.5 hours before you must have a 45 mins break. The break can be split in that you can take a 15 min break in the 4.5 hour driving period but you must then take the final 30 mins as soon as your driving time is finished.

i thought it was about 4 1/2 hours tbh my dad used to always park the bus in the layby near the house and come home for at least 30 mins
this was only 2 years ago since he left..

tripled

forever.insane wrote: »

The bus driver could easily reverse a little or park on the side of the streets on the left or right. He van didn't park right in front of the driver to block him in

Reversing back towards a junction with very limited visibility doesn't sound like a great plan to be honest. A small car tight enough behind you in a long wheelbase transit can be invisible, buses are a lot longer and have an even bigger blind spot.

The bus driver also is unlikely to deviate off to streets on the left or right - he may not know if he can get up them if they are narrow, get the big bus around bends up there, or how he is going to get back to his route. I've been on buses that have taken the worng turning before, where they then have to rely on passengers who know the area to direct them back.

I doubt tht is true, but if it is, it isn't my fault and doesn't mean that I should expect crap attitude from them.

I expect a better service. By emailing them, I hope they will start to slowly improve (I doubt so, but worth a try).

I'm not sure where he gave you a bad service? He argued with a van driver, so that is up to the van driver to complain, from what you said all he did was refuse to give you his name? However, if you believe he was rude, you genuinly didn't come across as being critical (it is easier than you think, especially if the driver was still feeling defensive after the row with the van driver), then by all means complain if you wish.

It's not rocket science. You hit a car = bad driving.

You said you didn't know who was in the wrong. Was the van trying to jump the bus at the lights? Was it tight to the bus in a blind spot? Having not driven a bus and not seeing the incident, there is no way I can judge, and it doesn't sound like you can tell either.

You block an entrance to a road = bad driving (possibly illegal, not 100% sure, certainly is a real pain for others and avoidable).

I thought the van stopped in front of him, it may have been unavoidable for the reasons outlined above.

Drive past a red light = bad driving and illegal.

He'll almost certainly say the light was on orange when he went past the board, which can be set back from the roadworks. Having said that, if the Stagecoach buses that fly about in South Wales are anything to go by, he probably did go past the red light trying to make time back after the incident and Stagecoach are unlikely to discourage him.

tripled

forever.insane wrote: »

I am really disappointed in stagecoach. Yesterday, at about 16:30 on ***** Road the driver seemed to have some sort of collision with the rear of the bus and the wing mirror on a van next to the bus. I'm not entirely sure as to who's fault it is ect but I feel the driver could have dealt with the situation better and the apology at the end of it all didn't really seem sincere. It lasted 10 minutes, which added 50% extra time to my travel (although I'm not going to complain so I didn't really lose anything).

Then as we got to the bridge on ******* Road, I noticed the driver went past red lights (temp lights, road works on bridge) although I think the car in front also went through red lights.

When I asked for the drivers name just before I got off, he refused in a very bad attitude. I understand he may have had a 'bad day at the office', but I feel I should have been treated with more respect as a paying customer.

Out of all of this, I feel the bus drivers need better training on situations like these and how to deal with them.

I also noticed that the bus driver left his engine running (until it turned off itself - a money saving feature no doubt) while of the bus talking to the van driver. This isn't helping the environment, especially as most companies are working to become more green.

My last complaint is the fact that the driver stopped the bus at the entrance to another road, making it impossible for other cars to enter of leave that road (drivers wanting to leave had to turn around and find a different route). I'm pretty sure this was illegal and didn't help the situation.

I hope you can resolve the issue's facing the bus driver (it was a ***** bus) and come up with some new training to help them deal with these rare situations.

Yours Faithfully,
A disappointed bus user.

With regards to the environmental issues, I suspect the driver wasn't planning to stop and argue for ten minutes. He would have wanted to be back under way asap.

If you really are determined to send that letter/email - personally I wouldn't bother, I'd be happy he didn't put the bus out of service and tell everyone to get off and wait for the next one - perhaps something more like this...

Dear sir or madam,

I wish to make a complaint about the driver* of the xxx bus from xxx to xxx on date (bus number xxx)*. Following a collision with a van, when I alighted at my stop I requested the driver's name. He refused this and I was unhappy with his attitude towards me. While I appreciate he may have been stressed after the incident, I feel I should have been treated politely and I would be grateful if you could look into this for me.

Yours faithfully,
A disappointed bus user.

*There will be a driver and bus number on the ticket, if you still have it, replace 'the driver' with 'driver number xxx'.

However, seriously, don't bother.

tripled

Rossy. wrote: »

the actual dimwits that take the bus

With an attitude like that, no wonder people getting on your bus thought you were an !!!hole and treated you like s!!t.

Markyt

I'd have that letter in the company newsletter right away, it would be a bit of a laugh at the expense of the person who wrote it.

You paid £4.50 for a bus to take you from A to B. It did so.

karlie88

rev_henry wrote: »

In Manchester us students are all familiar with 'crazy bus lady' who, cut a long story short, seems to just ride the buses all day and annoy everyone on them. She can frequently be seen being refused carriage on the Magic Buses. Ergo they can choose their passengers.

Haven't seen her for months.

rev_henry

karlie88 wrote: »

Haven't seen her for months.

Don't think I've seen her since December lol.

Rossy.

biggrizz wrote: »

I also am a pcv driver and you can only drive for 4.5 hours before you must have a 45 mins break. The break can be split in that you can take a 15 min break in the 4.5 hour driving period but you must then take the final 30 mins as soon as your driving time is finished.

In London we drive for up to 5 1/2 hours before a minimum of 40 minutes must be taken

i think it's because it's all classed as local drving or something

Domestic Driving Limits for PCV Drivers

Daily Driving
10 hours on any working day

Cumulative or continuous Driving
5 ½ hours- after this, a break of at least 30 minutes must be taken in which the driver is able to obtain rest and refreshment;