Speeding buses a thing of the past ?

[notadriver]

Most of the bigger bus companies such as Stagecoach and First have some sort of driver monitoring system such as Green Road or Ribas. I believe national express have some finish similar. Are the days of lively speeding buses long gone ?

(My friend was caught doing 60 mph in a coach on a single carriageway road and was fined/points etc)

 

[gordonthemoron]

Arriva in MK can go like the clappers when they feel like it

 

[Harlesden]

Stagecoach Lincolnshire have a very tight timetable on their InterConnect 3 Lincoln-Grimsby service. A bus going at one would consider normal (bus) speed couldn't possibly make it. I was on it and it was doing 50 almost all the way - much of it along narrow country roads. The only slowish part was getting out of Lincoln itself.

 

[Titfield]

Vehicle tracking is usually required as you need to be able to prove that the speed as recorded exceeded the speed limit at that location!

It is also worth pointing out that speed in itself is sometimes not the issue, it is inappropriate speed.

 

[1e10]

First in Bristol have the monitoring system in place but the drivers still speed and drive quite violently when they need to.

 

[185]

Lol all that drive green junk was totally out the window at our rail replacements yesterday. Think some of the drivers were moonlighting from NASA.

 

[Liam]

I've seen people using GPS apps on their phones to report drivers to the company via twitter.

 

[jon0844]

I've never reported a bus driver for speeding, but have certainly had a few 'interesting' rides over the years. Nearly always late at night (11pm onwards) and most of the time it will be incredibly uncomfortable for passengers and driver.

But in those instances, it's been a case that my stop is the last one before the depot and the driver will be finishing for the night and want to get home ASAP.

I expect this isn't really possible now as they're GPS tracked and perhaps everything is logged and might even flag up things like this automatically, landing the driver in trouble.

 

[northwichcat]

Many single carriageways have 60mph speed limits but you have to decide what speed up to 60 is safe to travel at - sometimes it is 60, other times it's 45 and trying to do 60 would result in you finishing up in a ditch.

 

[jon0844]

Inappropriate speed is the issue but people have been brainwashed into thinking that doing 31mph in a 30mph is always bad, but doing 40mph in a 40mph is always fine.

Driving to the conditions is simple common sense, but not something you see that often.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Many single carriageways have 60mph speed limits but you have to decide what speed up to 60 is safe to travel at - sometimes it is 60, other times it's 45 and trying to do 60 would result in you finishing up in a ditch.

Max speed limit for a bus on a single-carriageway road is 50mph

 

[1e10]

Inappropriate speed is the issue but people have been brainwashed into thinking that doing 31mph in a 30mph is always bad, but doing 40mph in a 40mph is always fine.

Driving to the conditions is simple common sense, but not something you see that often.

Are you saying that bus drivers should be able to decide which speed they rive at based on some sort of risk assessment they're able to conduct from the cab?

 

[Harlesden]

I've seen people using GPS apps on their phones to report drivers to the company via twitter.

Amazing. Some people aren't happy unless they're getting someone else - often a hardworking person providing a public service - into trouble

 

[1e10]

Amazing. Some people aren't happy unless they're getting someone else - often a hardworking person providing a public service - into trouble

I don't mind bus drivers speeding, I appreciate that they have strict timetables to keep to and that sometimes it is silly for road vehicles to be subjected to a speed restriction.

I have reported bus drivers for speeding whilst texting before though. If a driver is speeding (or not speeding even) they should be giving their full attention to the road.

 

[vicbury]

I too have reported drivers for using their mobile phones whilst driving. Funnily enough I have never seen them again!

The other day I was on a Unilink bus in Southampton and the driver charged over a speed ramp and one of the windows upstairs shattered. Yes he was doing less than the speed limit, but as others have said it's all about appropriate speed.

 

[Stan Drews]

Are you saying that bus drivers should be able to decide which speed they rive at based on some sort of risk assessment they're able to conduct from the cab?

If the driver of ANY vehicle is unable to do this, then they should not be behind the wheel.

 

[jon0844]

Are you saying that bus drivers should be able to decide which speed they rive at based on some sort of risk assessment they're able to conduct from the cab?

No, if you're taking that to mean a driver can go as fast as s/he wants.

I should have pointed out that I wasn't referring to buses, and had already said how at speed it can be very uncomfortable regardless of danger.

It was more about how drivers are under the impression that speeding is bad, but following a limit means it's fine.

 

[jopsuk]

I know that neither Whippet nor Stagecoach drivers obey the speed limit (15mph) under Hills Road bridge in Cambridge... because if I'm doing 15mph+ on my bike there's no way they should be catching up with me!

 

[34D]

I know that neither Whippet nor Stagecoach drivers obey the speed limit (15mph) under Hills Road bridge in Cambridge... because if I'm doing 15mph+ on my bike there's no way they should be catching up with me!

A speed limit of 15mph isn't legally recognised though.

 

[1e10]

I too have reported drivers for using their mobile phones whilst driving. Funnily enough I have never seen them again!

The other day I was on a Unilink bus in Southampton and the driver charged over a speed ramp and one of the windows upstairs shattered. Yes he was doing less than the speed limit, but as others have said it's all about appropriate speed.

I reported a First Bus driver for using his mobile phone whilst using excessive speed driving past a primary school during prime walk to school time. Unfortunately I've seen him twice since hearing from First that they would carry out an investigation making use of on-board CCTV.

 

[notadriver]

I hadn't considered the advent of GPS means that everyone with a phone can now tell if you're speeding (!)

 

[richw]

I hadn't considered the advent of GPS means that everyone with a phone can now tell if you're speeding (!)

I've been led to believe from previous threads on here GPS speed is not accurate unless in a straight line on the level. Personally I wouldn't report a driver for speeding, I would see that as a little hypocritical myself!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Many single carriageways have 60mph speed limits but you have to decide what speed up to 60 is safe to travel at - sometimes it is 60, other times it's 45 and trying to do 60 would result in you finishing up in a ditch.

I assume the limit is lower than 60 for a bus on single carriageway, as a van over 2 tonnes is restricted to a lower speed limit on a single carriageway, I imagine a much larger bus is also limited to a lower speed

 

[overthewater]

Alot of drivers are very good at driving even at 55mph. You can still drive at speed and be safe.

I do know a certain First company has speedy up its service at long last cutting 10mins of its timetables.

 

[Blindtraveler]

For me in anything its safety first. That said though js a passemger, I couldnt give 2 hoots if the driver breaks the limmit and gives it a good old thrashing as long as its safe! Many drivers will be well aware of the limmitations of themselves, there vehicle and there route and if they want to bend the odd rule here and there cool by me, just as long as its safe!

 

[455driver]

Driving to the conditions is simple common sense, but not something you see that often.

Whats that then?

I quite agree about inappropriate speed being the issue though.

 

[PG]

I assume the limit is lower than 60 for a bus on single carriageway, as a van over 2 tonnes is restricted to a lower speed limit on a single carriageway, I imagine a much larger bus is also limited to a lower speed

See post #11 above

 

[90019]

Are the days of lively speeding buses long gone ?

Nope.

I assume the limit is lower than 60 for a bus on single carriageway, as a van over 2 tonnes is restricted to a lower speed limit on a single carriageway, I imagine a much larger bus is also limited to a lower speed

On an NSL single carriageway it's 50mph for buses, vans over 2 tonnes max laden weight (not current weight, as some believe), and 7.5 tonners.
HGVs over 7.5 tonnes have a 40mph limit.

As an aside, due to having limiters, neither buses nor HGVs can legally attain their speed limit on motorways.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

For me in anything its safety first. That said though js a passemger, I couldnt give 2 hoots if the driver breaks the limmit and gives it a good old thrashing as long as its safe! Many drivers will be well aware of the limmitations of themselves, there vehicle and there route and if they want to bend the odd rule here and there cool by me, just as long as its safe!

I echo this, as long as the driver is aware of limitations, then I don't see what the problem is. It brightens up my day knowing that the driver is absolutely thrashing the bus. I remember that one of Stagecoach Perth's East Lancs Kinetics can actually get up to 69mph. It's an absolute bug bear of mine though that if a driver is running late, s/he stills pooters along the road at 2mph even though getting the foot down would make up that time...

 

[455driver]

It's an absolute bug bear of mine though that if a driver is running late, s/he stills pooters along the road at 2mph even though getting the foot down would make up that time...

Maybe they are frightened that some self important <oops> on the bus will ****ter or email or phone the company about the (alleged) speeding so its simpler just to potter along and sod the timetable.

 

[WessexEclectic]

When did speedo's become compulsory on the railways? Having heard stories of Big four and maybe early BR drivers using MK I eyeballs, I'd love to see a comparison between a gps and one of the old boys...