Bus drivers and judging distance

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Bus drivers and judging distance



I guess most of us have experienced a close overtake or just general poor driving from a bus driver… but how do you misjudge this space?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-15016390

 

[snorri]

… but how do you misjudge this space?

Tunnel vision?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

By spending years driving around in a single decker, then being given a double decker to play with, I suspect.
I've never hit a low bridge, but I came close once after spending a couple of months in a 12'3" high truck. One day, I went ot work and was given one about two feet taller: off I went on my usual route, only remembering the extra height in the nick of time about twenty yards before a 13' bridge ... There's no excuse for hitting a low bridge, but I can see how it would happen.

 

[Arch]

By spending years driving around in a single decker, then being given a double decker to play with, I suspect.
I've never hit a low bridge, but I came close once after spending a couple of months in a 12'3" high truck. One day, I went ot work and was given one about two feet taller: off I went on my usual route, only remembering the extra height in the nick of time about twenty yards before a 13' bridge ... There's no excuse for hitting a low bridge, but I can see how it would happen.

I can go one better. When our vehicle is off the road we hire a van. A low roof Vauxhall Vivaro goes under the archway at Penny Lane Court with an inch ot two to spare.

Next time, they hired us a high roof one. Guess who was driving it.

No damage to the archway, and a small dent in the van. I'm still deeply embarrassed by it, two years on.

On a related note, there's an archway off Walmgate with a height restriction notice in mm!

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I hired a campervan and was rapidly shown what all the bits and bobs do shower, skylights etc. before going to the hire company's fuel forecourt to fill up.

The forecourt was in the middle of a refurbishment, which was lucky as the electricians didn't have far to travel to replace the lights I cleaned out with the skylights their man had left open.

 

[Little yellow Brompton]

I hired a campervan and was rapidly shown what all the bits and bobs do shower, skylights etc. before going to the hire company's fuel forecourt to fill up.

The forecourt was in the middle of a refurbishment, which was lucky as the electricians didn't have far to travel to replace the lights I cleaned out with the skylights their man had left open.

In the middle of the CB craze I managed to take out every tube in a local park, the type you had to go up and then back down to get out!

 

[Arch]

A colleague of mine once watched a VW campervan leaving the Terry Avenue caravan site, with the roof awning still extended up.

Until it got to the low pass under Skeldergate Bridge.

 

[ianrauk]

I saw this happen a couple of years back in Bromley.....

 

[fossyant]

Nightmare. So easily could have been deaths.

BTW, a quick fact, did you know modern buses are significantly lower than the old route masters ? I didn't until we got a ride in one a couple of years ago, and a new stagecoach bus pulled up by the side - tiny in comparison. The route master attracted much attention as it was a London bright red one, in South Manchester !

 

[theFire]

This happened near me recently:

http://www.kingstong...facing_damages/

4 Bridges in 2 hours, same lorry / driver!

Crazy

 

[Matthew_T]

In all buses they have a sign saying the height of the bus. On all bridges, they have a maximum height. The driver must have noticed that they both dont meet up. Or he might have got annoyed with students and decided to kill them all.

 

[downfader]

Bus driver in London has just been convicted today of killing a man on the pavement iirc.

I dont so much know if its just bad driving... I think a lot of it has to do with the sheer pressures of timetables and some of the passengers they have to deal with. I've been taking the bus for the past couple of weeks and they have to put up with a lot of distracting s***.

 

[chillyuk]

I saw this happen a couple of years back in Bromley.....

Delivering a bridge?

 

[downfader]

Air, tyres. Open valves, jobs a gooden!

 

[Stephenite]

A few weeks ago I was on the way out of the multistory carpark in the car and i heard a crunch.

A woman had used the family car to go shopping and forgot her husbands mtn bike was on top.

My first thought was "Quick get a photo for CC!"

But the poor woman was obviously embarrassed, a crowd had already begun to assemble, and I and another bloke took apart the remains of the barrier, and gave a bit of a go to remove the bike without damaging it further. It was a complicated task, and i didn't get to complete it as my car was now causing a queue on the off-ramp.

So I buggered off and left them to it, having not taken the photo!!!