Buses capable of warning drivers if they pass a requested stop?

[py_megapixel]

I was travelling on a bus in Germany (a Mercedes-Benz Citaro operated by Rhein-Neckar Verkehr) a few days ago. As with most modern German buses, it had a passenger information system (PIS) display showing the next few stops. On approach to my desired stop I pressed the "stop" button and heard a short beep from the drivers' cab; "Wagen hält" (German equivalent to "bus stopping") appeared on the PIS.

The question I have is this: since the stop request button seems to be integrated with the PIS somehow, and the PIS knows the location of the stops, is the PIS capable of warning drivers if they drive past a stop which someone has requested?

The reason I am wondering this is that at the stop I had requested, the driver had to overtake a bus that was already there and stop a short distance beyond; just after passing the offical stop, I heard from the cab a similar beeping sound to when requesting it, but this time going on for several seconds.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Normally the passenger does that by pressing the button repeatedly or holding it down

 

[py_megapixel]

Normally the passenger does that by pressing the button repeatedly or holding it down

Modern buses seem to be too clever for that - it won't make a noise at all if pressed when "Wagen hält" is already up.

Not sure why they do this, presumably just to avoid distracting the driver with unnecessary noises.

 

[lloyd.penfold@]

Normally the passenger does that by pressing the button repeatedly or holding it down

...or by shouting obscenities at the driver!

 

[edwin_m]

I was travelling on a bus in Germany (a Mercedes-Benz Citaro operated by Rhein-Neckar Verkehr) a few days ago. As with most modern German buses, it had a passenger information system (PIS) display showing the next few stops. On approach to my desired stop I pressed the "stop" button and heard a short beep from the drivers' cab; "Wagen hält" (German equivalent to "bus stopping") appeared on the PIS.

The question I have is this: since the stop request button seems to be integrated with the PIS somehow, and the PIS knows the location of the stops, is the PIS capable of warning drivers if they drive past a stop which someone has requested?

The reason I am wondering this is that at the stop I had requested, the driver had to overtake a bus that was already there and stop a short distance beyond; just after passing the offical stop, I heard from the cab a similar beeping sound to when requesting it, but this time going on for several seconds.

Nottingham City Transport has a system with the same features, from German supplier Init, but I can't answer whether they get a warning on passing a requested stop.

 

[MCR247]

Nottingham City Transport has a system with the same features, from German supplier Init, but I can't answer whether they get a warning on passing a requested stop.

They don’t, and I would imagine it’d be seen as an unnecessary distraction for no real gain. Once the bus has passed the stop, it has missed it unfortunately. The driver, going by the letter of the rules (afaik), shouldn’t be stopping or attempting to stop until it reaches the next bus stop. Perhaps in Germany the rules aren’t as strict.

 

[ChrisC]

Once the bus has passed the stop, it has missed it unfortunately. The driver, going by the letter of the rules (afaik), shouldn’t be stopping or attempting to stop until it reaches the next bus stop.

This may be ok in cities and other urban areas, but in rural areas a little bit of common sense and relaxing of rules is important. Occasionally a driver new to the route can miss my local bus stop as, especially after dark, it is not very visible. I wouldn‘t be very happy if, through no fault of my own, I was taken a mile down the road to the next stop in the next village. Fortunately, when it very occasionally happens, the driver usually very apologetic, stops as soon as is safely possible. I would soon be doing some very serious complaining if I was taken to the next stop and had to walk back along an unlit country road.