There are several locations where buses reverse in Cornwall because they have to, otherwise they are unable to continue the journey. Sennen Cove, Crowan Church and Fowey spring immediately to mind. The driver does it without any assistance.
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Bus drivers, how would you handle a car blocking the road?
- Thread starter 175mph
- Start date
- Status
There are several locations where buses reverse in Cornwall because they have to, otherwise they are unable to continue the journey. Sennen Cove, Crowan Church and Fowey spring immediately to mind. The driver does it without any assistance.
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Er, I have already conceded I might have misunderstood strict company rules for the law, if you'd cared to read back before mouthing off. As for diversions, my point about Insurance and contravening Registered particulars was aimed at drivers deviating off registered routes without permission, NOT at authorised diversions due to roadworks, or instructions due to Police incidents etc.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
Well. you said it was a generalisation! You mention Preston, and I first experienced their buses nearly fifty years ago, before the opening of the bus station and even before their first opo, and there were termini where buses were required to reverse (on the P3 at Lea, for example).
Wish I could remember the Christchurch trolley turntable, because I certainly would have seen it as we holidayed in that town in 1953 and my love of trolleybuses started that year. Just can't dig up a memory though!
PermitToTravel
Established Member
It's still rubbish though
It's almost impossible to end up in a situation where you're not covered by a motor insurance policy, if you haven't lied to obtain it
Many years ago, I was on a 285 or 131 Routemaster going down the Cambridge Road towards Kingston, and there was a 'Diversion -Turn Left' sign directing traffic down Hampden Road. The bus duly followed this, until the conductor advised the driver that the diversion was only for traffic wishing to turn left further along at Hawks Road. Cue one reversal / turn round assisted by the conductor, and return to Cambridge Road, much to the amusement of the next 131 or 285 coming along Cambridge Road.
Teflon Lettuce
Established Member
- Joined
- 22 Aug 2013
- Messages
- 1,750
I see the old chestnut of buses reversing has resurfaced. This is a topic that regularly appears on here in different threads..
As I remember it, it WAS illegal to reverse a bus with passengers on board on a public highway without a company official acting as banksman. I definitely remember reading this in the relevant Act of Parliament many years ago when I first started in the industry, however, for the life of me I can't remember whether it was the Road Traffic Act 1930 or the Conduct of Drivers Passengers and Conductors Act 1936.
Of course, in those far off days there was more likely than not a company official readily at hand as all but the smallest buses required a conductor to be on board.
Then came the relaxation of the size of vehicle allowed for OMO until in 1966 OMO DD's were allowed.
Originally as routes were converted to OMO they had to be passed for such operation by the Traffic Commisioners. As time went on it became neccessary for routes with reversing manouvres within the running of the route to be converted to OMO, and with the general relaxation of rules the TC's started to allow such routes to be converted... and to be frank the police had better things to do than enforce achaic rules. AIUI the need for a banksman was removed in the Road Traffic Act 1980.
NOTE: it has never been a legal requirement for the need for a banksman at the end of a route as the bus would be empty, the last passengers having disembarked from the last journey and the first passengers for the new journey not having boarded already. Nor has it ever been neccessary for a banksman in bus stations as bus stations are NOT public highway, they are private property that the public have access to... 2 entirely different legal entities.
now ssshhhhh.. don't tell anyone, but us bus drivers have continued to foster the urban myth that buses aren't allowed to reverse with passengers on board for a very good reason... when we meet Tristan in his BMW or Sharon in her Audi on a narrow country lane and said people expect bus to reverse 100 yds when they only need to go back 50 ft, it don't half come in handy to be able to convince them that you are legally forbidden to reverse
As for insurance and going off route... well obviously you would still be insured both motor and public liability... however if you were to have passengers on board whilst running light I would seriously doubt that they would be covered by the public liability insurance as they would be being carried contrary to the conditions of the policy, the same as they would not be covered if they were acting in contravention of the company's conditions of carriage eg getting on/off between stops...
by the way.. can anyone explain how Nat Ex get away with selling "travel insurance" when everything that you are "buying" you are already covered for both under their motor insurance and public liability insurance... a scam if ever there was one!
As I remember it, it WAS illegal to reverse a bus with passengers on board on a public highway without a company official acting as banksman. I definitely remember reading this in the relevant Act of Parliament many years ago when I first started in the industry, however, for the life of me I can't remember whether it was the Road Traffic Act 1930 or the Conduct of Drivers Passengers and Conductors Act 1936.
Of course, in those far off days there was more likely than not a company official readily at hand as all but the smallest buses required a conductor to be on board.
Then came the relaxation of the size of vehicle allowed for OMO until in 1966 OMO DD's were allowed.
Originally as routes were converted to OMO they had to be passed for such operation by the Traffic Commisioners. As time went on it became neccessary for routes with reversing manouvres within the running of the route to be converted to OMO, and with the general relaxation of rules the TC's started to allow such routes to be converted... and to be frank the police had better things to do than enforce achaic rules. AIUI the need for a banksman was removed in the Road Traffic Act 1980.
NOTE: it has never been a legal requirement for the need for a banksman at the end of a route as the bus would be empty, the last passengers having disembarked from the last journey and the first passengers for the new journey not having boarded already. Nor has it ever been neccessary for a banksman in bus stations as bus stations are NOT public highway, they are private property that the public have access to... 2 entirely different legal entities.
now ssshhhhh.. don't tell anyone, but us bus drivers have continued to foster the urban myth that buses aren't allowed to reverse with passengers on board for a very good reason... when we meet Tristan in his BMW or Sharon in her Audi on a narrow country lane and said people expect bus to reverse 100 yds when they only need to go back 50 ft, it don't half come in handy to be able to convince them that you are legally forbidden to reverse
As for insurance and going off route... well obviously you would still be insured both motor and public liability... however if you were to have passengers on board whilst running light I would seriously doubt that they would be covered by the public liability insurance as they would be being carried contrary to the conditions of the policy, the same as they would not be covered if they were acting in contravention of the company's conditions of carriage eg getting on/off between stops...
by the way.. can anyone explain how Nat Ex get away with selling "travel insurance" when everything that you are "buying" you are already covered for both under their motor insurance and public liability insurance... a scam if ever there was one!
Bromley boy
Established Member
- Joined
- 18 Jun 2015
- Messages
- 4,611
It's still rubbish though
It's almost impossible to end up in a situation where you're not covered by a motor insurance policy, if you haven't lied to obtain it
Drink driving would probably do it (in the context of a private individual's motor insurance policy), although the insurance company would still be required to pay out for damage to third parties.
Tackleberry
Member
Before you make such a 'scam' allegation I suggest that you read what the 'travel insurance' actually covers. Precisely which part of motor insurance and public liability insurance covers passengers not making the journey because of illness etc, delays, loss of baggage during whole of journey etc etc etc.. ?
And I assume the driver was suitably contrite?
Tackleberry
Member
Car driver didn’t even look at me when he appeared...
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
Embarassment does that.
Bryan Andrews
Member
- Joined
- 15 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 12
I have seen this before and believe there was a fault on the bus. It was obviously completely out of control and pedestrians and other motorists could have been killed. If this was on purpose I don`t think the driver would have taken out the shelter as well. Considering the car was not in the way of the bus anyway.
matt_world2004
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 4,504
Why would a bus driver care if a cars blocking the road. They will get paid regardless and as long as they took reasonable steps to avoid or end the blockeage (Like contact control) they wouldnt get in trouble. I imagine sitting there doing nothing possibly amassing overtime would be quite an easy turn.
The drivers on my local route are far more professional than that.
Rather a negative view. I have been on enough buses where the driver has apologised for hold ups that are not their fault to know that some (many? most?) do care.
I am not certain about overtime either. From what drivers say (and I don't disbelieve them), it merely means they get a shorter break before their next turn.
matt_world2004
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 4,504
From a customer service point of view yes its appropriate to apologise, but the point I was making is its not going to anger upset or inconvenience the driver in any way having the road blocked, just the passengers. Most bus drivers do not get paid lunch breaks.
Sorry, I wasn't sufficiently clear about what I meant by the last point. I meant that they arrive at their destination approx. four minutes after they were due to leave on their next run, not four minutes before.
matt_world2004
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 4,504
In london some drivers will aim to leave right time even if it means less stand time. . however they are allowed to still take five minutes to have a wee and prepare for the next trip. A few months ago some operators had huge problems with some drivers trying to get curtailments because it meant less customer interaction.It was very difficult to detect too an extra 30 seconds at a bus stop and 5mph below the speed limit is practically indistinguishable from background noise. On the other hand you will get drivers that take risks to make up lost running time. The third set of drivers do not care . They will drive the bus to the best of their ability but if something delays them its not their fault so why worry? And in my experience they are the higher performing drivers. They will not drive in a way that causes passenger discomfort to make up lost running time and they do not try to get a turn. Because they are not stressing about lost running time they do not get into as much conflict. They will still take their 5 minute break on stand if they need it.
philthetube
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Jan 2016
- Messages
- 3,762
Surely reversing in one direction is going forwards, (sorry)
No, the route in both directions runs down the village main street as a dead end off the main route, so in both directions the bus heads north along the main street to the lop sided T junction, reverses into the side street where a stop is located and then head back south along the main street.
Busaholic
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Jun 2014
- Messages
- 14,078
My avatar shows two buses on First Kernow route U4, one in each direction, the first doing a 3 point turn and the other will soon follow it, on the Golden Mile (and I'm not talking Blackpool).
Sir, your coat is waiting for you in reception.
(I took this as a humorous contribution?)
- Status