talking to bus drivers: discussion

[MCW]

Hi all basically I went into town today and I got on the bus all the usual stuff and was chattig with the driver, as sson as he moved off he 'tild me to read the sign' in other words politely tell me to shush. I am actually shocked (in a good kind of way) that a driver has done that. I am a little hurt as I am just being nice but I can't complain and I fully understand that the driver is following company policy, as should I.

This is the first time it has ever happened though which I an amazed about. Ita got me thinking, if you are a driver, what do you do? Let the person talk or politely ask them.to be quiet? I just wondered how you guys would handle that situation?

As an enthusiast its nice having a little chat, and. For many drivers it brightens their day up.

Over to you

 

[Greenback]

Most drivers will enjoy a chat while the bus is not moving. It is very distracting for drivers to be talking to passengers whilst the bus is in motion. Ever since I can remember, on one man operated buses there have been signs asking people not to stand forward of a point or to speak to or distract the drivers attention when the bus is moving.

 

[causton]

Obviously it depends on the driver. Depending on their circumstances (they're new, they have been recently told off for something) they would want to concentrate. Perhaps they might just want to concentrate anyway - exactly the reason the rule is in place. If they're more of a relaxed driver they might be fine with it however, and I'd imagine if I were a bus driver I would make my feelings known.

I would expect the same if I were the person talking to the driver too. I might feel hurt, but the rule is there for a reason, and I wouldn't like to know that I had a bus driver who would be too afraid to tell someone to stop breaking rules/laws... if they can't control a human being how can they control a bus? :P

 

[Flying Snail]

The OP may not like it but for me (and most of my colleagues) it comes down to the individual in question. Some people I have no problem chatting to while I drive, others I do not want yapping away at me at all.

It also depends on the situation, if it is a colleague that I am talking to they will have enough sense to pause when I need to concentrate fully on the road, many others wouldn't. In fact it always amazes me how often people will pick the worst possible times to approach me and ask questions, only the other day I had a chap start asking me about connections and fares in the middle of me negotiating a particularly bad junction. this after him sitting on the coach for 3 hours of mostly uneventful A road and motorway driving.

If it is a bus there is also the issue of the person standing rather than sitting, if at all possible I'd rather drive with all passengers seated, it is one less thing to worry about in the event of sharp braking or steering being needed.

I do think it was a bit rude for that driver to just point at the notice though when a friendly word or two would have worked.

if they can't control a human being how can they control a bus?

If only all people were as easy to control as a bus my job would be a lot easier, by far the most difficult part of my job is dealing with people, the majority are fine but those that aren't create plenty of complications.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

People talking surely can't be that distracting? We regularly do it on the way to jobs.

 

[MCW]

People talking surely can't be that distracting? We regularly do it on the way to jobs.

Indeed, but everyone is different and work in different ways to others.

Luckily I am clean and don't smell so at least that is on my favour! Lol

 

[90019]

People talking surely can't be that distracting?

When you're trying to concentrate on everything that's going on around you (other traffic, pedestrians, traffic lights, cyclists, etc.), having someone talking to you at certain times can be very distracting and could cause you to miss something important.
Particularly in the case of cyclists and pedestrians, who seem to have a habit of trying to sneak round you wherever possible, and can be very easily missed.


Personally, I don't mind chatting to people most of the time, particularly when sitting in traffic. But like those above, there are times where I just need to concentrate on driving the bus.
Also, there are some people I'd just rather not chat to.

Luckily I am clean and don't smell so at least that is on my favour! Lol

There's a guy who gets on one of the buses I drive who I'd rather didn't chat to me, but he always does on the approach to his stop. It's partially because I can't understand a word he says, but also because he absolutely reeks - and it's a smell that lingers for quite a while after he gets off.

 

[TRN481V]

...but also because he absolutely reeks - and it's a smell that lingers for quite a while after he gets off.

Which is why I always used to carry a can of Febreze in my bag when I worked on service buses!

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

On my commute I tend to talk to my bus driver, it's never a problem.

 

[londonbridge]

[pedant mode] It always makes me laugh that the notices on London buses say 'Please do not speak to or obstruct the drivers vision when the bus is moving'. How do you 'speak to the drivers vision'?? His/her eyesight can't talk!

 

[Dennis]

I often try to chat with bus drivers but a lot of them just don't seem to understand me.

 

[MCW]

The OP may not like it but for me (and most of my colleagues) it comes down to the individual in question. Some people I have no problem chatting to while I drive, others I do not want yapping away at me at all.

It also depends on the situation, if it is a colleague that I am talking to they will have enough sense to pause when I need to concentrate fully on the road, many others wouldn't. In fact it always amazes me how often people will pick the worst possible times to approach me and ask questions, only the other day I had a chap start asking me about connections and fares in the middle of me negotiating a particularly bad junction. this after him sitting on the coach for 3 hours of mostly uneventful A road and motorway driving.

If it is a bus there is also the issue of the person standing rather than sitting, if at all possible I'd rather drive with all passengers seated, it is one less thing to worry about in the event of sharp braking or steering being needed.

I do think it was a bit rude for that driver to just point at the notice though when a friendly word or two would have worked.

no offense taken from your comments, it is a perfectly valid reason. you never know, I used to be a transport campaigner so perhaps he didn't want to talk to me because of that.

I could turn the argument on its head and say he was the introverted ignorant person, which I shall not as that is unfair in light of the responsibilities that he holds whilst driving.

at the time that I wished to talk to him it was just as we departed from a bus stop which is entirely in a bus lane which is 24 hrs. i can understand why he wouldn't want to be distracted but I always do my very best to not distract a driver at inappropriate times.

he pointed at the sign and said 'read the sign' the 'sign' is just basically the standard issue first group sticker above the drivers cabin door. I pretty much knew what the label said anyway. That was the bit that hurt the most, no, 'please don't speak to me I would like to concentrate' or anything like that.

When you're trying to concentrate on everything that's going on around you (other traffic, pedestrians, traffic lights, cyclists, etc.), having someone talking to you at certain times can be very distracting and could cause you to miss something important.
Particularly in the case of cyclists and pedestrians, who seem to have a habit of trying to sneak round you wherever possible, and can be very easily missed.

There's a guy who gets on one of the buses I drive who I'd rather didn't chat to me, but he always does on the approach to his stop. It's partially because I can't understand a word he says, but also because he absolutely reeks - and it's a smell that lingers for quite a while after he gets off.

Fully agreed, I cycle a lot too, but luckily I am quite respectful of buses and lorries and I do hang back and make sure that I ride safely with reflectives making me visable to them. in the city centre here, the pedestrians are a pian to any driver, the stupid council pedsestrianised a good amount of the centre where the buses run so people wonder straight into live roads thinking its a free for all... I have seen so many near misses.... but anyway, I digress.

Yes, I know about smelly people. I work at a 'upmarket' (I shall say) Supermarket chain store and jeez you still get some right stinkers in.... they smell more vintage than a rotting vintage cheddar *blurgh*

Obviously it depends on the driver. Depending on their circumstances (they're new, they have been recently told off for something) they would want to concentrate. Perhaps they might just want to concentrate anyway - exactly the reason the rule is in place. If they're more of a relaxed driver they might be fine with it however, and I'd imagine if I were a bus driver I would make my feelings known.

I would expect the same if I were the person talking to the driver too. I might feel hurt, but the rule is there for a reason, and I wouldn't like to know that I had a bus driver who would be too afraid to tell someone to stop breaking rules/laws... if they can't control a human being how can they control a bus? :P

Exactly and again very valid points.

 

[90019]

Fully agreed, I cycle a lot too, but luckily I am quite respectful of buses and lorries and I do hang back and make sure that I ride safely with reflectives making me visable to them.

When I'm on my bike, I keep my distance from anything larger than a car.
I never understand the mindset of people who cycle up the insde of buses and HGVs. Surely only a blithering idiot can't see how stupid a thing that is to do?

in the city centre here, the pedestrians are a pian to any driver, the stupid council pedsestrianised a good amount of the centre where the buses run so people wonder straight into live roads thinking its a free for all... I have seen so many near misses.... but anyway, I digress.

One thing I'm not looking forward to about the single deck hybrids we're about to get is the number of people who will walk out in front of them. They're an inline hybrid system (similar to a Prius), and the engine turns off when stationary, so I'm predicting lots of fun and games with that. :roll:

Yes, I know about smelly people. I work at a 'upmarket' (I shall say) Supermarket chain store and jeez you still get some right stinkers in.... they smell more vintage than a rotting vintage cheddar *blurgh*

Unfortunately, the smelly people I enounter generally either stink of body odour or stale urine.
We are actually allowed to refuse people travel on the bus if they smell too bad, but it's not something that happens often.

 

[MCW]

When I'm on my bike, I keep my distance from anything larger than a car.
I never understand the mindset of people who cycle up the insde of buses and HGVs. Surely only a blithering idiot can't see how stupid a thing that is to do?

One thing I'm not looking forward to about the single deck hybrids we're about to get is the number of people who will walk out in front of them. They're an inline hybrid system (similar to a Prius), and the engine turns off when stationary, so I'm predicting lots of fun and games with that. :roll:

Unfortunately, the smelly people I enounter generally either stink of body odour or stale urine.
We are actually allowed to refuse people travel on the bus if they smell too bad, but it's not something that happens often.

Agreed with the Cycling points, I have never understood that either.

Ahh, yes you will need every ounce of attention for those ones!! yes, it will probably be a case of waiting a fair while before people are used to 'silent buses' being there. the only other way I would think it could work is by having a sound card programmed with a leyland tiger engine sound for when you are idling and doing small speeds in a city centre!

funny you should mention the rejections.... there is currently a chap in leicester who is banned by both First and Arriva because of the way he smells, the way he treats the drivers and other passengers and also because (in the case of first) he urinated on the lower saloon back seats on a double decker..... lovely.... :roll:

 

[90019]

Ahh, yes you will need every ounce of attention for those ones!! yes, it will probably be a case of waiting a fair while before people are used to 'silent buses' being there. the only other way I would think it could work is by having a sound card programmed with a leyland tiger engine sound for when you are idling and doing small speeds in a city centre!

I think the horn may be getting a fair bit of use.

Mind you, if they have the same horns as the rest of the Volvos we've got, that's no bad thing.

 

[BestWestern]

People talking surely can't be that distracting? We regularly do it on the way to jobs.

It is a standing rule for most decent operators that drivers must not carry people on the platform whilst moving. I was 'booked' for doing it once or twice, and most Inspectors will do the same if they see a driver doing it. Whilst there is no law against talking to people while driving it does present and additional distraction, and having people stood on the platform can be dangerous in the event of a collision.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I'm aware that it is a rule, it just surprised me that people would consider it such a distraction that it became dangerous. It doesn't tally with my own experiences.

 

[90019]

It doesn't tally with my own experiences.

But what are your experiences?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

But what are your experiences?

Advanced emergency driving.

 

[anthony263]

Having done the job I agree with the explanations given by those on here who have experience of driving buses about why we really shouldn't talk to people when driving a bus.

I dont really talk much to my collegues when I am out driving one of my current employers delivery vans

 

[ATW Alex 101]

On my commute I tend to talk to my bus driver, it's never a problem.

Same here, I usually ask the driver about buses and that and he is more than happy to talk about buses. I only ever talk to him when we are on the motorway, as he wont have to concentrate as much as when we are on the side roads of Bebington and Ellesmere Port!

 

[BestWestern]

I'm aware that it is a rule, it just surprised me that people would consider it such a distraction that it became dangerous. It doesn't tally with my own experiences.

Most drivers probably wouldn't, but their employers obviously have a duty to be as safety conscious as possible, and the employees have a duty to act in line with their instructions. Having said that, it should be considered that when driving something the size of a bus, considerable concentration is needed when negotiating certain situations, and having somebody yakking into your ear is not helpful even if it isn't an issue during normal driving. People standing on the platform can also easily end up obscuring the view of your nearside mirror or out through the doors or windscreen for example, which can be a problem if it happens at a crucial moment.

Many competent drivers are quite capable of using a mobile phone without causing an accident, but we all appreciate that making it illegal is a sensible move nevertheless.

 

[Welshman]

Most drivers probably wouldn't, but their employers obviously have a duty to be as safety conscious as possible, and the employees have a duty to act in line with their instructions. Having said that, it should be considered that when driving something the size of a bus, considerable concentration is needed when negotiating certain situations, and having somebody yakking into your ear is not helpful even if it isn't an issue during normal driving. People standing on the platform can also easily end up obscuring the view of your nearside mirror or out through the doors or windscreen for example, which can be a problem if it happens at a crucial moment.

How very true.
I don't even like chatting to those with me in the car when I'm driving - let alone if I were trying to steer a large bus through traffic.
Fortunately, those who ride with me know this, and don't just think I'm an antisocial individual!

 

[northwichcat]

Depending on their circumstances (they're new, they have been recently told off for something) they would want to concentrate.

In the case of them being new it's not unknown for there to be communication with the passengers while the bus is moving because the driver can't remember which turning to take or because the driver has missed a turning.

 

[BestWestern]

In the case of them being new it's not unknown for there to be communication with the passengers while the bus is moving because the driver can't remember which turning to take or because the driver has missed a turning.

True, but usually this tends to involve much group shouting down the length of the bus!

 

[Shrimper]

I know when I was at Stagecoach it became a disciplinary matter if you were seen talking, though I think it applied more to colleagues standing in front of the door and chatting as you were driving rather than a passenger nipping to the front to check something.

I have no objection to someone asking me something or making an observation on the move, and I will always respond - what I won't do is turn it into a conversation, and will generally start to ignore someone/give brief answers if they try and make it into one.

 

[Zamracene749]

Anybody else had the opposite problem- you sit down to enjoy a peaceful daydreamy ride through the countryside and the driver (undoubtedly bored out of his head after hours of unresponsive or non existent punters) bends your ear for the whole journey!

Has happened to me many times over the years.

I don't mind at all but it can sometimes be difficult conducting a conversation over the engine noise, worth it though for the fascinating little insights into somebody else's life

Even had it happen out of the cab door of a met-camm dmu once....

PS I never bother the driver whilst they are driving- even if I know them- unless they start the conversation. Apart from anything else, a lot might not want to be seen fraternising with known spotters by their workmates lol

A sensible approach I think?

 

[Clip]

he pointed at the sign and said 'read the sign' the 'sign' is just basically the standard issue first group sticker above the drivers cabin door. I pretty much knew what the label said anyway. That was the bit that hurt the most, no, 'please don't speak to me I would like to concentrate' or anything like that.

Reminds me of an episode of The Simpson when Bart gets lost or into the ghetto.

I dont understand why you feel hurt over it though or any of the things that you could have called him - which is a puzzler still.

You know the sign is there,you know what it says yet you still feel the need to talk to him even though there is a warning saying do not do such a thing.

Im a stickler for these kind of things and I just wish they had a sign in black cabs to telling the cabby not to speak to you.

 

[MCW]

Reminds me of an episode of The Simpson when Bart gets lost or into the ghetto.

I dont understand why you feel hurt over it though or any of the things that you could have called him - which is a puzzler still.

You know the sign is there,you know what it says yet you still feel the need to talk to him even though there is a warning saying do not do such a thing.

Im a stickler for these kind of things and I just wish they had a sign in black cabs to telling the cabby not to speak to you.

each to their own.

be a stickler I aint bothered.

in the sense that I do agree but I also disagree at the same time if that makes sense....

 

[Ivo]

Guilty as charged. That probably isn't a good thing to admit. I must have done it with 20 different drivers across five different companies. Some of the drivers in Bath will even rely on me for internal information more than their own managers! I have also been given numerous trips on buses that were not in service, including among others a National Express coach (bound for the Depot) and taking advantage of a one-way journey on my University route and staying with the driver out of service back to Uni because I knew it was faster!

Otherwise, the longest route I have ever done this on is the 724 - end-to-end, in both directions. Although when you consider that my father was driving, this probably isn't a fair comparison!

I first did it when I was about 13, so pretty young.

Reminds me of an episode of The Simpson when Bart gets lost or into the ghetto.

If you're thinking of the episode I expect you are, it was Lisa

"I should have got off in Crackton."