However, if by swerving round the bus at the last minute because you were too impatient too wait, you caused the bus to brake sharply, injuring a passenger…you may well be on the receiving end of a NIP for one of those offences. Especially with the advent of CCTV on buses.
As a point of interest, an elderly lady died last year after suffering head injuries from a fall on the bus, caused by an impatient van driver who decided he absolutely had to get out of a junction ahead of a bus…sadly, they have never traced the van driver, but safe to say if they had, they would have faced charges.
The Highway Code Rule does not just apply to bus stops, it is a general rule…give way to buses.
Hope this helps!
Sir! You mis-judge me!! I am not, and never have, advocated “swerving round a bus” or being that impatient. I am merely pointing out that there is nothing in law that says that a bus in a bus stop has the right to pull out in front of me, or that I MUST give way to it. As a professional driver and long standing IAM member (and senior observer) I have more patience and consideration than to cut up anyone. I will repeat, however, that the Highway Code wording on the matter is still not a RULE, merely (good) advice.
Maybe they should introduce a rule for bus drivers to pull all of the bus into their ■■■■■■■ great bus stop rather than just aim the doors at the kerb. and leave the arse blocking the road.
8wheels:
Maybe they should introduce a rule for bus drivers to pull all of the bus into their [zb] great bus stop rather than just aim the doors at the kerb. and leave the arse blocking the road.
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…■■■■ it, i’ll block the road.
Buses are used by poor people who can’t afford proper means of transport. These people are likely to be suffering from such things as Ricketts and Scurvy and don’t usually have anywhere important to be so make 'em wait.
Coffeeholic:
Buses are used by poor people who can’t afford proper means of transport. These people are likely to be suffering from such things as Ricketts and Scurvy and don’t usually have anywhere important to be so make 'em wait.
Coffeeholic:
Buses are used by poor people who can’t afford proper means of transport. These people are likely to be suffering from such things as Ricketts and Scurvy and don’t usually have anywhere important to be so make 'em wait.
Thankyou.
That doesn’t help.
… and its not entirely true. Townies who can use buses all the time are probably richer than us poor country dwellers who must suffer the now high costs of running our own motor vehicle as a necessity.
I’ve been known to take a bus one way to collect one of the world’s best & most expensive motor cars. (sadly not mine)
Yes bus drivers do abuse the “give way to buses pulling out” advice.
As to how they make money, well there are times they are very full, so running at (at a guess) £40 a mile on rebated fuel* + further subsidies on some routes.
For anyone who doesn’t know how it works: Bus operators must buy & run on white diesel. (DERV) but on some routes (many) they can claim the majority of the duty back, so it ends up the same price as red. (gas oil).
This does not apply to private coach companies taking a load of blue rinse grannies etc. on their holidays, only to local bus routes.
DonutUK:
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…[zb] it, i’ll block the road.
I realise now - you drive one of the infernal things
That explains a lot
I drive a coach, but its technically a bus route, though its not National Express, Megabus etc, its a shuttle run from Slough station to o2’s head office and thats the tactics I use at certain times of day - block the road with my arse end, and I also use the 3 cars past and Im coming out ready or not
Coffeeholic:
Buses are used by poor people who can’t afford proper means of transport. These people are likely to be suffering from such things as Ricketts and Scurvy and don’t usually have anywhere important to be so make 'em wait.
DonutUK:
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…[zb] it, i’ll block the road.
I realise now - you drive one of the infernal things
That explains a lot
I drive a coach, but its technically a bus route, though its not National Express, Megabus etc, its a shuttle run from Slough station to o2’s head office and thats the tactics I use at certain times of day - block the road with my arse end, and I also use the 3 cars past and Im coming out ready or not
DonutUK:
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…[zb] it, i’ll block the road.
I realise now - you drive one of the infernal things
That explains a lot
I drive a coach, but its technically a bus route, though its not National Express, Megabus etc, its a shuttle run from Slough station to o2’s head office and thats the tactics I use at certain times of day - block the road with my arse end, and I also use the 3 cars past and Im coming out ready or not
Oh the 3 car rule, I recall about 4 years ago a route 56 in London, woman driver blocking the road like all the other ■■■■■■ bus drivers do … about 6 stops down road not being able to pass her in my truck she pulled in properly, indicated to get back out but I was beside her gave me great pleasure as I felt the bus getting ripped up on the side of the trailer … and the cheeky ■■■■ she had the cheek to try and say I hit her when I was going straight and the bus was angled when the police got there.
I hate bus drivers who think tehy rule the road need to get a life!
DonutUK:
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…[zb] it, i’ll block the road.
I realise now - you drive one of the infernal things
That explains a lot
I drive a coach, but its technically a bus route, though its not National Express, Megabus etc, its a shuttle run from Slough station to o2’s head office and thats the tactics I use at certain times of day - block the road with my arse end, and I also use the 3 cars past and Im coming out ready or not
Oh the 3 car rule, I recall about 4 years ago a route 56 in London, woman driver blocking the road like all the other [zb] bus drivers do … about 6 stops down road not being able to pass her in my truck she pulled in properly, indicated to get back out but I was beside her gave me great pleasure as I felt the bus getting ripped up on the side of the trailer … and the cheeky [zb] she had the cheek to try and say I hit her when I was going straight and the bus was angled when the police got there.
I hate bus drivers who think tehy rule the road need to get a life!
What you obviously failed to notice was the she had started to pull out, you then proceeded to overtake her, she had to stop and you collided with the bus.
The “i was stationary mate” tactic…always a winner.
Have found around Oxford that Stagecoach drivers are better than Oxford Bus Co who in general don’t bother with speed limits or give way at roundabouts. They also quite enjoy launching old folk down the gangway instead of letting them sit down. If they’re not suntanned imports they’re old time Omnibus drivers in a union who think “On the buses” is their DCPC customer service module…
DonutUK:
All part of the master plan…if we block the road with the arse end, makes it easier to get out!
If more motorist’s actually gave way to the bus, they wouldn’t have to resort to these tactics to simply do their job.
I’ve been known before to refuse to use a layby bus stop simply because i know the idiots won’t let me out again…[zb] it, i’ll block the road.
I realise now - you drive one of the infernal things
That explains a lot
I drive a coach, but its technically a bus route, though its not National Express, Megabus etc, its a shuttle run from Slough station to o2’s head office and thats the tactics I use at certain times of day - block the road with my arse end, and I also use the 3 cars past and Im coming out ready or not
Oh the 3 car rule, I recall about 4 years ago a route 56 in London, woman driver blocking the road like all the other [zb] bus drivers do … about 6 stops down road not being able to pass her in my truck she pulled in properly, indicated to get back out but I was beside her gave me great pleasure as I felt the bus getting ripped up on the side of the trailer … and the cheeky [zb] she had the cheek to try and say I hit her when I was going straight and the bus was angled when the police got there.
I hate bus drivers who think tehy rule the road need to get a life!
What you obviously failed to notice was the she had started to pull out, you then proceeded to overtake her, she had to stop and you collided with the bus.
The “i was stationary mate” tactic…always a winner. [/quote
io used to drive buses many moons ago back in the mid to late 90’s, it just baffles me how drivers today think they can just indicate and pull out, she took out her mirror and windscreen, thankfully it was caught on CCTV and it clearly showed her in the wrong.
As a bus driver i never pulled out on car drivers, getting pais by hour didnt care if i was running late unless on last rounder and wanting to get home!
bigvern1:
So, just because vehicles’ don’t let you out…You are going regardless…? And I’m unprofessional and ignorant?
No, you misunderstand the 3 car rule…after 3 cars you start to pull out, thus encouraging the other motorists to stop…the side of bus tends to be more effective than an indicator for some people.
Generally most people get the message as the bus starts to move…admittedly some don’t, and leave us with a decision to make…carry on pulling out and risk a collision (which would be unprofessional) or stop.
It’s all about using the size and presence of your vehicle to influence other road users, which is exactly how i was taught to drive buses by London Transport over 20 yrs ago. We were taught to use the bus to make decisions for other road users, and to make progress.
If you sat and waited for other motorists to politely let you out of stops, junctions etc, you would easily be 15 minutes or more late every trip. Which would get the inspectors on your back, which could cost you your job.
