[Closed] Just got side-swiped by a school-bus....

[i]What do I do to get an apology and ensure the bus driver is reprimanded?[/i]

call the police and get your neighbour to be a witness don't bother going to the bus company.

'driving without due care and attention' charges will tend to get an apology from anyone.

if you're feeling particularly aggreived (I would be) then local papers love this sort of story 'small child nearly mown down by school bus - driver flees scene'

The bus company will probably ignore you, if it was serious bad driving then contact police (seeing as you have a witness).

Contact the manager at the bus company, and mention that you intend to contact the school and the local authority, even if you have no such intention.

Reporting it with the bus reg number, route and location... there supposed to take it seriously. Make sure you make them aware of the whole incident you child being a risk, and the 'reply' (no apology just an abusive shout) from the driver.
I know that locally the public buses have camera's on there drivers, though this may not be the case if it's a contract 'coach'.

Thanks.

It is a contract coach, according to the website, its a general run bringing kids from around the area to the various schools around here.

I'm impressed that there's been no mention of owning-with-bombers or weeing-in-shoes 🙂

Is it worth contacting CTC's legal advice dept, as I'm a member so have access?

If you came to me and told me that, and your neighbour too, then I would charge the bus driver.

Contact police if you want 'official' action but, unless you plan to sue the bus company for somethign I'm not sure the CTC will be able to do much more than make noises?

Write to your Traffic Commissioer's office with as much info as poss inc a statement from the witness - TC's office license PSV drivers - and are concerned about the behaviour of bus drivers. They have a responsibility to investigate. They'll acknowledge your letter and seek observations from the driver's employer in the first instance and let you know the outcome. The correspondence will go on the driver's file (it might be a thick one full of similar complaints) and will be there to take into consideration when the licence comes up for renewal. In extreme cases the driver can be hauled in front of the Traffic Commissioner and may loose his licence (and livelihood). Bad bus driving is serious.

I had a school bus do exactly the same to me; overtaking on the approach to a mini-roundabout, even though I'd moved further into the road to stop people doing just what he did. He got alongside me and realised he was running out of space before reaching the traffic island in the middle of the road so just moved over & squeezed me out. Luckily there was no kerb, so I moved onto the grass, shouted some profanities and carried on my way.

I rang the bus company when I got home and upon explaining what happened, from the sound of it the bloke I spoke to was expecting me to say the route & reg no of the bus that i did. He was very apologetic and said he would make sure the bloke was spoken to.
I left it at that.

go to the police. bus drivers are a bloody menace. worse than any one else on the road. if it happens again there should be an emergency shut off on the back of the bus. hit that instead of shouting at driver.

Just called local police station, there's an officer coming down to see me...

I wouldn't even bother with the bus co, they'll just reply with flim-flam like "appropriate action has been taken but we can't tell you what that is due to data protection."

Fantastic, good luck ir_bandito.

bus drivers are a bloody menace. worse than any one else on the road.

Apart from Audi and BMW drivers, naturally. 😉

bus drivers are a bloody menace. worse than any one else on the road.

Nah, taxi drivers surely?

Na bus drivers. Taxi drivers give you no room but theyre in a small vehicle bus driver give you no room and dont give a s*** about you either

The bus driver left the scene of an accident. Report it to the police now.

[i]Report it to the police now. [/i]

he already has 🙂

This used to happen to me on a daily basis in Manchester, multiple times a day. The police would have arrested me for harrassement if I called them every time a bus nearly flattened me.

I did learn to grow eyes in the back of my head quite quickly though. 😆

You (and your child) were lucky to get away with no injuries and a mild case of annoyance due to the bus drivers bad (and very dangerous) driving.

If the driver in question does this sort of bad driving regularly then the next time someone might not be able to complain on an internet forum (or to the Police).

As the bus was contracted to run a service for the children to get to school, it will probably be a tendered service from the local council, so first point of contact would be the local council transport authority, dont forget to get the name of the person you speak to, also next the bus company, then the school.

Follow up with either a written or emailed report to all the above.

Accidents do happen, but the driver should have stopped and made sure you where ok.Driving kids to school is a very dificult job, and a very important one, luckily no one was seriously hurt.

Police officer is a cyclist and is going to take him to court for points or driver safety course.

I'm impressed that there's been no mention of owning-with-bombers or weeing-in-shoes

Own him with bombers, then take off his shoes and wee in them.

Seriously though glad you and your biy are in one piece.

Police officer is a cyclist and is going to take him to court for points or driver safety course.

Sounds lucky you had a cyclist copper, I would have thought the polici woldnt bother as no one was injured etc...

Contact the police and the bus depot manager. That's dangerous driving. Glad you and the lad are ok though. Would've had major panics if that was me.

What Cynic-al said. Do not contact the bus co at all. They will always take the side of the driver. Contact the police.

How's the little 'un? OK I hope?

court for points or driver safety course

Seems pretty light for running you and your son off the road.

Very dissapointing, in my experience bus drivesr are usually the best drives. I would do what people here say, straight to the police and straight to the news.

I found something last night which seemed to work quite well. I had a bus start to overtake me and i knew he would cut in soon so as soon as i heard the engine rev up and his cab start to over take me i stuck my right arm out very far in a pointing, not signalling manner. He over took REALLY wide. I was surprised it worked, but am going to try it in future. Sometimes though, it can be too late. Ive narrowly avoided your situation before and a stern email to the company apparently meant they gave the guy a good talking to.

What Cynic-al said. Do not contact the bus co at all. They will always take the side of the driver.

Not always - but it helps that MD is also a cyclist in this case 😉

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Road-rage-bus-driver-hit-cyclist-Bristol/story-14332449-detail/story.html

I'm not going to the bus company, I'll let the police do that.

We're ok, I'm stil shaken up.

If the driver already has points, he won't be allowed to do the safety course, he'll get more points which may force him off the road.
If he hasn't, he won't be able to risk being so stupid in the future.

Thanks for all your concern.

I'll update when I hear of anything.

Pimpmaster Jazz - Member

"bus drivers are a bloody menace. worse than any one else on the road."

Apart from Audi and BMW drivers, naturally.

what if the bus driver also owns an Audi ?

Ok, just spoke to the police again.
Driver has a clean record, and is going to have a "formal chat" on friday.

Nice to see the Police are taking this seriously and doing what they can.

I have contacted the bus company before ( for a less serious incident) and they certainly seemed to take it seriously including getting back to me later.

for that one tho the police for sure

Glad both of you are ok 🙂

Write to the Bus Company asking for an apology. They'll investigate who the driver is and probably reprimand and deal with him internally. I had to investigate loads of similar complaints and accidents when I worked for Stage Coach Devon. Often it will involve the driver being sent back to their driving school for reassessment. It could even leave to disciplinary action for the driver depending on previous history.

At the least you'll get an apology. Give them as much info as possible, bus number, reg, description of driver, location and time.

Tom Kp

Also, just remember that buses and lorries have massive blind spots. And cyclists are dry difficult to see at times. This is no way excusing the driver, and his attitude afterwards was terrible.

Remember the majority of bus drivers are sensible decent folk, it's just a minority that cause the problems.

Tom kP

Blind spot or no, I was wearing a hi-viz jacket and had my Trout'd Hope lights on. The only blind spot was not actually looking in his wing mirror.

I would contact the bus company directly and ask to speak to someone in charge - be nice (gets you further) and suggest you would pass on your advice that the driver should be more careful next time - and spell out the consequences if you had not been quick to make emergency manoeuvres etc?

If they get shirty then you are happy to push it further as you have a witness and can easily get the police involved?

Glad your ok Paul. Hope that the driver of the bus realises what he has done and how different the situation could have been, even if that is after an intervention from the police.

cheers Nick 🙂

I reported an incident to the police after being knocked off my bike and assaulted.

They politely listened, got the driver in for a chat.

Then they told me that if I continued making a nuisance of myself they'd be after me for breach of the public order because I had the nerve to shout back at the driver.

I would also have contacted the bus operator and reminded them of the drivers responsibilities under The Health And safety act 1974, as well as The Road Traffic Act. It tends to make the person on the end of the phone pay a bit of attention if you can let them know you know a fair bit about legal responsibilities of employers as well as employees. Council would have to investigate if you made a complaint to them.

I had a similar experience with a coach which tried to squeeze past me as i was going through a reduced width carraigeway, which was reduced as part of the traffic calming measures - didn't calm me down 👿

Aidy - Member

I reported an incident to the police after being knocked off my bike and assaulted.

They politely listened, got the driver in for a chat.

Then they told me that if I continued making a nuisance of myself they'd be after me for breach of the public order because I had the nerve to shout back at the driver.

Im hoping there's more to that story than you're telling us,otherwise something is VERY wrong.

Oh, I did mis-speak and say that I was "angry" that they were choosing not to take any action, which they interpreted to be an action of aggression and indicative that I probably caused the entire thing, apparently.

Remember the majority of bus drivers are sensible decent folk, it's just a minority that cause the problems

You won't be familiar with Arriva drivers then?

Just seen the friendly plod.

Bus driver has been officially interviewed, he claims he saw me and gave me enough space (which he did once I had got off the road)

Due to clean license record, and the fact he's bricking it, he's getting a formal caution.

Be interesting to see how he overtakes me on monday morning....

helmet cam for monday morning?

smile and a cheery wave...

get your neighbour to follow the bus, just in case...

good result, I think, and well done to you for pursuing it.

Ultimatley, he didn't actually cause an accident (through my preventative action) so he could only be penalsied for careless driving. According to the plod, he's so shook up, it should have sunk in not to risk it again.

But... what helmet cam for commuting?

Police officer is a cyclist and is going to take him to court for points or driver safety course.

Just seen the friendly plod.

Bus driver has been officially interviewed, he claims he saw me and gave me enough space (which he did once I had got off the road)

mmm... so "plod" has [s]realised that in fact its not HIS decisions to take to court and pursue for points or course[/s] changed his view on the incident.

If his bus touched your bike or you fell off the bike and he didn't stop at the scene of the accident to exchange details etc then I'd expect a very serious response. It sounds like he simply caused you to swerve and stop - so the response is probably proportionate.

And not trying to take the bus drivers side - but I bet you don't approach that traffic island leaving enough room for him to even consider an overtake on Monday!

I believe the onus is on the overtaking vehicle to deal with the space and timing of the manouver as long as the other vehicle maintains a steady and predictable course. With allowance for emergencies etc.

How was it this morning for you ir_bandito?

http://thecyclingsilk.blogspot.com/2012/01/sorry-but-is-sorry-always-good-enough.html

Getting cyclists off the roads maybe what drivers like this are seeking to achieve. There is an overwhelming public interest in ensuring that they do not succeed. This ought to rank above the job security of professional drivers who prove themselves to be temperamentally unsuited to their work.

"I believe the onus is on the overtaking vehicle to deal with the space and timing of the manouver as long as the other vehicle maintains a steady and predictable course."

Thats a message that seems to have been lost by most drivers.

Anyways, sounds like a good result. Maybe the bus drivers experience will have an effect on his driving (a positive one 🙂 and the message may leak out to some of his fellow drivers.

Really sorry to bump an old thread. It was linked to in a recent thread, and I wanted to add a valid response.

But... what helmet cam for commuting?

A friend of mine living in London was knocked from his bike and the car crushed it. I can't recall the details, but I don't think the driver stopped. The police stated that as it was my friends words against the drivers, there was nothing they could do.

Since then, he's been wearing a head-cam for his daily commute. He feels it's better safer than sorry, to have tangible evidence. Plus he vents anger against poor driving by uploading videos to youtube!

bus drivers are a bloody menace. worse than any one else on the road.

Apart from Audi and BMW drivers, naturally.

I am an Audi driver and a cyclist, does this mean I am a menace to myself?

Bus drivers need to be properly trained to interact with bikes smoothly. Edinburgh ones have been and the difference over the years is noticeable.

cynic-al - Member
I wouldn't even bother with the bus co, they'll just reply with flim-flam like "appropriate action has been taken but we can't tell you what that is due to data protection."

As helpful as ever eh... Try to READ AND ABSORB the OP - He's asking for advice of what to do, not what not to do.

Are you now following me round here to flame my 6 month-old posts?

GO YOU!

Part of what to do is excluding what not to do.