Vent - Idiot bus driver

MamaMoo_2

So my husband took my three-year-old son on a bus on Saturday. The driver slammed the brakes on in order to chat to the driver of a bus coming the opposite way. (Pair of genius drivers that they were blocking an entire road while they were at it)
My OH and my son were just getting up to get off the bus and as such my OH was flung down the bus and my son, also sent flying, went face-first into a pole, giving him a black eye and two small cuts. Complaint to the bus company made, promised that the driver would be dealt with. End of.
Went to get on a bus today and my son starts screaming and crying as soon as we arrive at the bus stop, and starts having a panic attack.
Not impressed!
And all because some idiot driver fancied blocking the roads to have a chat with his mate.

wealdroam

All the buses around here have signs saying something like "please remain seated until the bus has stopped".

Perhaps your husband missed them.

MamaMoo_2

wealdroam wrote: »

All the buses around here have signs saying something like "please remain seated until the bus has stopped".

Perhaps your husband missed them.

Nope, but if you aren't standing at the doors when the bus arrives at the stop around here, the driver doesn't stop!
I used to press the bell when I had a pram + toddler in tow. 100% of the time there wasn't someone else getting off and standing by the door, the bus sailed past my stop.

System

Yes you shouldn't be walking around when a bus is moving. A bus can stop for any reason so if you're not in your seat it's your own fault.

Smithers37

I guess the sign that says something like "DO NOT get out of your seat until the bus has come to a complete stop" is just put there for decoration?

It was never going to be a good idea to stand up while the bus is moving, especially with a infant. I hope your son is ok though.

MamaMoo wrote: »

Nope, but if you aren't standing at the doors when the bus arrives at the stop around here, the driver doesn't stop!
I used to press the bell when I had a pram + toddler in tow. 100% of the time there wasn't someone else getting off and standing by the door, the bus sailed past my stop.

To be fair, what's worse? Making a complaint because the driver didn't stop -- or making a complaint because your young one was hurt.

likelyfran

wealdroam wrote: »

All the buses around here have signs saying something like "please remain seated until the bus has stopped".

Perhaps your husband missed them.

Good point but does sound like some bad driving by the bus-driver...
You do get that on buses, some drivers drive smoothly and others don't seem to be able to....

MamaMoo_2

I think had it been an emergency stop for a reason, I'd have overlooked it, but considering the reasons behind his sharp braking, I think I'm justified being peed off.

Zedicus

To all the sanctimonious idiots telling MM it's her (or her husband's) fault because he was not sitting down, did it not occur to any of your tiny minds before you wet yourselves in your glee at being able to have a go at some poster with a problem that buses are intended to travel with passengers standing?

The number of passengers allowed to stand is stated in the vehicles licence and is usually visible on the bus.

Apart from that, bus drivers do not sit and wait for everyone to be seated before driving off (how would they know for upstairs passengers).

Drivers should, at all times, drive as if there are standing passengers and only perform a sudden stop if it absolutely unavoidable.

System

Zedicus wrote: »

To all the sanctimonious idiots telling MM it's her (or her husband's) fault because he was not sitting down, did it not occur to any of your tiny minds before you wet yourselves in your glee at being able to have a go at some poster with a problem that buses are intended to travel with passengers standing?

The number of passengers allowed to stand is stated in the vehicles licence and is usually visible on the bus.

Apart from that, bus drivers do not sit and wait for everyone to be seated before driving off (how would they know for upstairs passengers).

Drivers should, at all times, drive as if there are standing passengers and only perform a sudden stop if it absolutely unavoidable.

Yes but passengers should also be aware that a moving vehicle can suddenly stop thus they should have hold of an appropriate hand rail (which are there for standing customers to hold onto)

Double decker buses have either CCTV or a mirror which let's the driver know what is going on upstairs.

Buick

There are no signs on the buses where I live saying please remain seated until the bus has stopped?? There's also plenty of standing room for passengers and on the busy routes there's loads of people standing up. That driver must have really braked hard for the poor kid to get a black eye!!

MothballsWallet

MamaMoo: I agree with you about the sudden stopping - that's crap and the wrong way to bring a vehicle to a halt safely - but there are reasons why the drivers stop and talk to each other.

For example, if there are any diversions that have to be done but haven't been announced over the in-bus radio, if there's a message that needs to be passed on.