Do you notice how a bus is driven?

[LSWR Cavalier]

I took several bus trips recently (town/country).

I sit towards the back and enjoy looking at the landscape.

But I could not help noticing actions by the bus drivers that I found very concerning: drinking from a bottle while driving (head tilted right back!), following too close, keeping speed then braking when approaching a red light, instead of coasting and maybe avoiding stopping, ignoring stop signs.

On a couple of occasions I pressed the halt button and the bus did not stop! Should one press it several times, to be sure?

Doubtless bus drivers have skills in placing and maneuvering large vehicles, but should they not be expected to drive smoothly, correctly/properly/legally?

I noticed the actions mentioned without specially observing, I do find them concerning. I have not driven a bus but have done a lot of driving in cars and white vans.

What have others observed?

 

[Gloster]

As almost all of my bus journeys are over the same route, I only really seem to notice if the driver is going unusually fast. It strikes me that some newly-qualified drivers get over-confident after a month or two and start giving it too much welly when they are running late, occasionally to an alarming extent (*). Less common is driving extremely slowly.

* - A thought that usually comes to mind on these occasions is how, after I was allowed to mow my parents’ lawn with their powered mower, I got over-confident on the second or third outing, took a turn a turn too fast and went through some flower pots.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, I certainly notice the difference between courteous drivers and aggressive ones. I find most in London to be the former, and most in Milton Keynes to follow the usual car driving practice there and be the latter.

 

[eh1]

I've always wondered this as a driver. I aim to be smooth in my braking, especially coming to a stop, but often wonder if my efforts go un-noticed by passengers! I have to say that the type of bus you're on can really affect how smooth the drive is, as for speed, tailgating etc that's very much a driver issue.

 

[LiviCrazy]

I definitely notice a difference between drivers. An area I particularly notice is how jerky they are with brakes and acceleration. A few drivers around my area which seem to tap the brakes a lot even going along main roads so is a constant rocking motion. Can make me feel quite ill by the time I get off.

 

[riceuten]

Not really. I tend to drift off unless the driving is particularly slow.

 

[Goldfish62]

Yes, because it's my job to do so.

 

[Busaholic]

I've always wondered this as a driver. I aim to be smooth in my braking, especially coming to a stop, but often wonder if my efforts go un-noticed by passengers! I have to say that the type of bus you're on can really affect how smooth the drive is, as for speed, tailgating etc that's very much a driver issue.

It's probably true to say that most passengers only notice bad driving, although maybe not even that in some areas where it's more commonplace. I have to say that I make particular trouble to thank the driver when it's been a well-driven journey, without being patronising in any way. More difficult in London and other dual door places of course. I still maintain that a scaled-down version of London Transport's Chiswick driving school should have been retained despite commercial bus companies operating the vehicles there now, and I've not lost hope that a citywide system might reappear in time, though not anytime soon!

 

[JD2168]

Yes I do notice. Some drive quite smoothly, some seem to slam brakes on at last moment, some seem to race along whilst others are painfully slow & some go straight over speed humps without slowing causing a particularly uncomfortable journey.

 

[Goldfish62]

I've always wondered this as a driver. I aim to be smooth in my braking, especially coming to a stop, but often wonder if my efforts go un-noticed by passengers! I have to say that the type of bus you're on can really affect how smooth the drive is, as for speed, tailgating etc that's very much a driver issue.

I think rough drivers get noticed by the passengers. It doesn't leave a good lasting impression.

Agreed re type of bus, eg E200 with Voith gearbox is virtually impossible to get a smooth drive out of.

 

[Geordie driver]

I do.

I am a terrible passenger, unless they drive just like me, I think they are wrong.

Nothing worse than a driver hammering a bus to try and make time, should be banned.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

How are timetables calculated? Is there recovery time, like in train timetables?
..
A couple times I wanted to alight, pressed the button in good time but the bus did not stop! In town that is not so bad, get off at the next stop and walk back but in the country it could be troublesome, the driver wanted to drop me off between stops where there is a ditch by the road and no footway.

What should you do? Press the button several times?

It is a queer feeling, the moment you realise the bus is not stopping.

 

[Ken X]

At the risk of showing my age, reading this thread reminds me of the Bob Newhart monologue "Bus Drivers School," I see it is available on YouTube but cannot paste a link due to terminal incompetence. Still raises a laugh.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not really. I tend to drift off unless the driving is particularly slow.

I hope you’re a passenger and not a driver

 

[route101]

I do notice the difference in coach drivers between the UK and the Balkans for example! I get motion sickness when on a coach going fast on twisty roads roads there!

 

[py_megapixel]

Nothing worse than a driver hammering a bus to try and make time, should be banned.

I quite enjoy it when they do that personally. It's a pleasant surprise when on an old spec Enviro 200, as it's about the only way to make a journey on one of those even remotely enjoyable.

(I'm off to post in the things to ban thread ...)

 

[Titfield]

How are timetables calculated? Is there recovery time, like in train timetables?
..
A couple times I wanted to alight, pressed the button in good time but the bus did not stop! In town that is not so bad, get off at the next stop and walk back but in the country it could be troublesome, the driver wanted to drop me off between stops where there is a ditch by the road and no footway.

What should you do? Press the button several times?

It is a queer feeling, the moment you realise the bus is not stopping.

When you pressed the button did you hear a confirmation chime and, if fitted, did the bus stopping sign on the bulkhead illuminate?

Did you remain sat down when you pressed the button or did you stand up holding onto the stanchion?

If the bus didnt appear to be slowing down I would walk down the aisle towards the driver and say excuse me driver please may I get off so he would be aware that I wished to disembark.

If the driver wished to drop you off where there is a ditch by the road and no footway then it is difficult to know which would be better. Carry on to the next stop and you get a bus back OR alight and walk back along the road. There would be no point in you going to the next stop and then walking back because (a) it would take longer (b) you would still have to negotiate the section where there was no footway. It may have been preferable for the driver to set you down where it was easier to disembark (ie no ditch) but for most people who miss their stop it is the length of the walk back which is their prime consideration.

 

[Skytower]

How are timetables calculated? Is there recovery time, like in train timetables?
..
A couple times I wanted to alight, pressed the button in good time but the bus did not stop! In town that is not so bad, get off at the next stop and walk back but in the country it could be troublesome, the driver wanted to drop me off between stops where there is a ditch by the road and no footway.

What should you do? Press the button several times?

It is a queer feeling, the moment you realise the bus is not stopping.

There is a bus stop exactly outside where I live. Frustratingly, the flag post is on the opposite side of the road but does indeed say “both ways stop” on it.

Several times, I’ve had drivers sail past where I should have got off (on the side without the flag post) despite me pressing the bell and walking towards the front of the bus. The next stop is only a few hundred yards, granted, but it makes a huge difference depending on the weather.

 

[GusB]

Maybe it's just an age thing, but in my younger days I loved it when I travelled with a driver who happened to have a rather heavy right foot. It is possible to appear that you're going fast without actually going that fast - useful if you're trying to give the impression that you're trying to make up for lost time.

In these days of automat(ic/ed) gearboxes, the electronics take away much of the fun.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

When you pressed the button did you hear a confirmation chime and, if fitted, did the bus stopping sign on the bulkhead illuminate?

Did you remain sat down when you pressed the button or did you stand up holding onto the stanchion?

If the bus didnt appear to be slowing down I would walk down the aisle towards the driver and say excuse me driver please may I get off so he would be aware that I wished to disembark.

If the driver wished to drop you off where there is a ditch by the road and no footway then it is difficult to know which would be better. Carry on to the next stop and you get a bus back OR alight and walk back along the road. There would be no point in you going to the next stop and then walking back because (a) it would take longer (b) you would still have to negotiate the section where there was no footway. It may have been preferable for the driver to set you down where it was easier to disembark (ie no ditch) but for most people who miss their stop it is the length of the walk back which is their prime consideration.

Yes, the "bus stopping" sign lit up. I have resolved to stay in my seat until the bus stops before standing up for fear of being knocked over by sharp braking. I sit near the exit doors where possible.

Buses have signs instructing passengers not to talk to drivers, I guess I could shout 'stop!' but I would not want to engage in discussion. Depending on whether I know the route, there is a moment when I realise he is not stopping.

In future I plan to press the button several times to be sure it registers.

 

[L401CJF]

In my final few weeks of bus driving (when I had completely had enough of the company, the job and everything with it) I remember driving around in a really foul mood. I was having a bad day and I just couldn't wait to get off the bus and go home.

I remember driving around particularly fast - not dangerously, no speeding, safe distance from other vehicles - but the poor pulsar certainly got some thrashing. Definitely not my finest moment - hands up to that.

I remember arriving into town and an elderly couple got off. As they did they said "Thanks driver, lovely smooth ride, I wish the others were the same" and left me a sweet on the tray.

I thought they were taking the micky at first as it was a lot more aggressive than how I normally drive. I did ask if they were joking to which they replied "no, nice smooth brakes some are very jerky!".

Cheered me up a bit and I took it slower after that. Not something I'm proud of but it certainly made me wonder how bad some of my colleagues must have been.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

Yes I do notice. Some drive quite smoothly, some seem to slam brakes on at last moment, some seem to race along whilst others are painfully slow & some go straight over speed humps without slowing causing a particularly uncomfortable journey.

I've had a Few Journeys where the Journey Started about 20-25 minutes down due to the inward Journey being late in Rush hour traffic. There then followed a Painfully slow Driver Changeover with the New Driver perfectly happy to chat to his Collegue for a good 5 minutes before again taking his time setting up his ticket machine etc..
We must have eventually left a good 35 mins late and THEN, on the Main Road Running Sectons of this Trunk interurban Route, was content to pootle along at 15mph or so whistling to himself with a Queue building behind him!

 

[GusB]

Compared to my younger days, I find that today's drivers tend to be a bit boring, but with all the monitoring technology available and incentives to drive more efficiently it's no great surprise, really.

When I say boring, I'm not suggesting it's a bad thing, but I've certainly experienced a few hair-raising journeys over the years! My first journey on a Volvo B10M was a rather exhilarating trip down the A92 in the hands of certain express coach company that provides nationwide services It was rather fun at the time, but I don't know if my nerves would withstand it these days!

 

[busesrusuk]

Having spent most of my adult life being responsible for a very large bus driver recruitment and training function in London, its sort of second nature to pay attention to the driving standards (particularly of my lot!). I have had, on occasion, a need to speak to a driver about their driving and offering suitable advice and guidance but not often (given the number of buses that I use). Sometimes I chose not to speak but arranged a covert observation to see if I was being particularly harsh - most times I wasn't!

As for the comment upthread about reintroducing an LT style Chiswick set up, no thanks - took years to break down the "prima donna" status some of those Instructors from the Chiswick days thought they were entitled to. I doubt that there are many left in any London bus company now though...

Although no longer working in the industry, I still notice "poor" driving standards when it occurs..

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

What I have observed is that as soon as it hits 10 pm, half of the bus drivers in London begin to drive like maniacs, accelerating and braking very harshly, swerving around corners at high speeds, some even driving through red lights(!)

Route 77 seems to be particularly bad (or good, depending on how you see it) for this, in my experience.

The most extreme experience, however, was on the route 142 towards Brent Cross at around 9 pm - sitting at the front just opposite the driver, I think I saw the speedometer clock 45 mph as we turned into Staples Corner.

 

[Goldfish62]

What I have observed is that as soon as it hits 10 pm, half of the bus drivers in London begin to drive like maniacs, accelerating and braking very harshly, swerving around corners at high speeds, some even driving through red lights(!)

Route 77 seems to be particularly bad (or good, depending on how you see it) for this, in my experience.

The most extreme experience, however, was on the route 142 towards Brent Cross at around 9 pm - sitting at the front just opposite the driver, I think I saw the speedometer clock 45 mph as we turned into Staples Corner.

I assume they think there's little chance of anyone being out there then observing them, which is rather foolish...

 

[Titfield]

Yes, the "bus stopping" sign lit up. I have resolved to stay in my seat until the bus stops before standing up for fear of being knocked over by sharp braking. I sit near the exit doors where possible.

Buses have signs instructing passengers not to talk to drivers, I guess I could shout 'stop!' but I would not want to engage in discussion. Depending on whether I know the route, there is a moment when I realise he is not stopping.

In future I plan to press the button several times to be sure it registers.

The do not talk to drivers signage should be overridden by common sense e.g. if a passenger is taken ill or if a stop is in danger of being missed. Usually just walking up to where the driver is sufficiently signifies that a passenger wishes to alight.

I acknowledge the point about sharp braking being an issue but I think one of the issues which may arise is that of no passenger wishing to alight makes any movement to indicate they wish to alight then the driver may wrongly assume that the bell push was pushed in error.

Did you make a formal complaint to the bus company and if so what was there response? Given the amount of CCTV now fitted on many buses, many operators are now able to investigate complaints of this type to a far greater extent than previously?

 

[ChrisC]

I never understand why on some routes, with long stretches in rural areas, some drivers hurtle along narrow country lanes, then arrive early in the next village. They then have to wait a few minutes for the correct departure time and then set off set off again at speed. I remember one long journey in Scotland where this happened 3 times and each time the driver got out of the bus for a cigarette!

 

[Dai Corner]

I never understand why on some routes, with long stretches in rural areas, some drivers hurtle along narrow country lanes, then arrive early in the next village. They then have to wait a few minutes for the correct departure time and then set off set off again at speed. I remember one long journey in Scotland where this happened 3 times and each time the driver got out of the bus for a cigarette!

I did a, fairly rare for me, rural journey last week and found it quite 'interesting' compared with my usual urban ones. We did appear to be driving at car speeds on the narrow and twisty main roads. We didn't wait time anywhere and arrived near enough on time so obviously the driving style was what the company expected. This was on a short Enviro 200. I must try it on a Yutong electric when I can to compare.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I never understand why on some routes, with long stretches in rural areas, some drivers hurtle along narrow country lanes, then arrive early in the next village. They then have to wait a few minutes for the correct departure time and then set off set off again at speed. I remember one long journey in Scotland where this happened 3 times and each time the driver got out of the bus for a cigarette!

Possibly to prevent traffic building up behind the vehicle and drivers making risky decisions e.g. to overtake when not really appropriate?
Or they could be doing it to try and make time for multiple mid-route cigarette breaks.