Hazards for Double-Deckers

[DD12]

Number 28 - low railway bridges immediately next to the depot.

This was the case with Eastern Scottish's New Street depot in Edinburgh, which was also the company's HQ. The combined depot/HQ complex took up most of the east side of New Street. At the bottom of New Street, where it meets Calton Road, is the bridge carrying the ECML into and out of Waverley. The depot had two entrances, one opposite East Market Street which was for single-deckers, and another one further down, next to the bridge, which was for double-deckers.

Woe betide any driver of a double-decker who either missed the lower entrance or, on exiting the depot, turned right instead of left. The penalty for striking the New Street bridge was instant dismissal - needless to say, a good few drivers at New Street found themselves sacked on the spot!

Thanks DunsBus.

I would like to make No.28 "Drivers ability to concentrate" :-

(I must emphasise here that I had a brief go at coach driving when I was 21, and though I passed my test, I tried to drive them like my car, and with my poor judgement and concentration, I was very lucky to not have had a serious accident - - I've never driven a DD).

- I'd say that there's the argument that if a DD driver cannot drive safely, avoiding low bridges and trees that, "every day" are in close proximity to the bus depot, then he or she is also likely to hit a low tree branch or other hazard further afield, and therefore should be confined to a single-decker rota, or work/drive somewhere else that has no tall vehicles ! (?)

 

[PermitToTravel]

If they can't concentrate they shouldn't be driving, let alone driving for a living every day, and large vehicles at that

 

[DD12]

Any more hazards, and safety issues for the driving and operation of DDs please, anyone ??

Also TRAINING tips and tips for their safe operation ??

I have been informed that FIRST intend to change all their dedicated training buses to double-decker ones (except where it would be inappropriate), but as someone on a different forum pointed-out, the ability of a new driver to safely drive a 12M long single-decker is "equally" important - - so it seems to me that a 50:50 mix at the depots that do training, would be best (??)