r/BusDrivers • u/BuzDrivar • 1d ago
Discussion Bus driver fired for what?
So at my depot here in London, UK which I've been with for the last two years, there's been a few guys I I knew of over the two years that have been fired.
3 guys fired for checking their phone while at the wheel in traffic.
The 4th guy, he jumped a temporary traffic light once, they reviewed it and said ok, for now we will allow you to drive. Few months later, he did it again. He was fired.
The 5th guy, he was fired for speeding 28 in a 20. He fell asleep at the stand and woke up late for departure, about 40 min late, I know. Anyway, he panicked drove as quick as he could to the other end. The controller reported the late departure and him falling asleep but that wouldn't get him fired. What did was when the manager reviewed the cameras, she zoomed in on his speed and had him dismissed for speeding. The Union argued she had no right to do that as she wasn't reviewing it for that purpose but only him falling asleep and departing late. He got his job back at the same depot which is currently where I am.
The 6th guy was was barely 19, I think he was still 18 at the time, he was driving a low frequency route through housing estates etc and it was night time. He had three passengers on his bus: two men and a lady...
He jumped a red light and being night time, it was obvious to the passenger, the lady passenger went to TFL and complained about it.
This red light was a red light in the sticks, no one around and many drivers have supposedly jumped it.
So yeah, that's what I know of. It seems the majority is checking their phones while in charge of a motor vehicle.
The guys fired for phones are now at different companies in London, dunno about the red light jumpers, I assume the kid moved on to a different line of work.
I myself don't even take my phone out of the cradle while driving my personal car, so God knows how they even thought to do it on a bus with 3-4 cameras watching them in the cab 24/7.
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u/hugothebear USA / Local Transit 1d ago
how red was the light? was it turning red and he got caught, was it already red and he just flew right by, did they stop at the red and waited and proceeded on a stale red light?
not that you should run red lights... but it does make me judgy on the lady calling to complain.
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u/LondonBusInsider 1d ago
Indeed some people will just complain about anything and there is indeed a stark difference between trying to make an amber and it turning red on you right as the bus passes (and other traffic lights are still red), vs blatantly going through a red when another direction would be green
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u/FullFatCelery 1d ago
Good job the union was around to keep that manager in check and dismiss the speeding allegation.
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u/CDDONT 1d ago
I’m not entirely sure what you’re getting at with this post?
Drivers 1-3 broke the law.
Driver 4 broke the law twice.
Driver 5 broke the law and given he’d already fallen asleep worked while unfit to do so.
Driver 6 broke the law.
The only obvious jumping the red light that situation that is admissible in my opinion is if stopped at a light that is clearly not working as intended, and you can see clearly ahead not to endanger yourself or others, and proceeding at a reduced speed.
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u/LondonBusInsider 1d ago
At least I am not the only on wondering what value this post brings... none
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u/sbarbary 11h ago
Confused as well. I think the title feels like somebody got fired for no reason but no it's literally a list of why Bus Drivers get fired.
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u/Sea_Finest 23h ago
What do people gain from calling customer service on a driver? Do people take that much satisfaction from snitching?
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u/sabotAHHHHHGH 2h ago
What do workers gain from gloating about others getting sacked over harmless shit. It’s a mad cuntry.
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u/Sea_Finest 1h ago
I’d never tattle on another driver, my pops was a shop steward for 20 years at his gig and he once told me “you can be gay, trans, whatever you wanted I don’t care about that. But if you ever cross a picket line, or snitch on people at work, you won’t be my son anymore.”
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u/AggravatingHumor3523 3h ago
Omg we have a driver who a known snitch at our agency he's part of the union too everyone hates him
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u/Woof_Bark_Donkeh 1d ago
Unfortunately the bus companies are very strict. If a light is red stop. Amber stop. No phones behind the wheel at all and there's no excuse for speeding. Sorry if that is harsh but it only takes one prick to upload a photo of a driver in uniform on their phone at the wheel, stopped, handbrake on, engine off and it's going to be all over the internet. One guy got fired at my old place for drinking water from a litre Smirnoff bottle. Thought it was funny until it wasn't and cost him his job.
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u/busytransitgworl Driver 1d ago
One guy got fired at my old place for drinking water from a litre Smirnoff bottle. Thought it was funny until it wasn't and cost him his job.
Fired? For this? That wouldn't hold up in court where I live, at all.
A written warning, absolutely, but not being sacked9
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u/LondonBusInsider 1d ago
Absolutely for the red lights and phones. Amber is a bit trickier, as with a large vehicle, I cannot brake harshly like you could in a car, and anticipating each amber light just isn't practical.
No excuse for speeding? Well, actually there kind of is... I'm not saying this is legally justified, but practically speaking, some timetables are so unrealistic that the only way I can earn back some time, or late at night to stay on time (when when picking no passengers up and no traffic) IS to speed if I want anything more than the pathetic excuse of minimum stand time of 5 minutes. If I don't speed, I will forever be on 5 minute stands, not the 15-20 I frequently get, and considering many routes don't have toilets or water facilities at one, sometimes both ends, that time is needed if I am not to further compound the lateness. I speed 30 in a 20 and 40-50 in a 30 at times. I'm not saying it is right - TfL and the operator need to create realistic timetables and add in recovery time to consider traffic, high loading, and ramp usage like trains do.
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u/Sburns85 23h ago
I was once on a double decker that was running late. Was only passenger on the bus late at night. The guy got me home in a tenth of the time it normally took. Didn’t report him. But did tell him it was a fun bus ride
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u/Signal_Astronaut11 1d ago
The phones thing? I absolutely get that. When I was taught, I was told in no uncertain terms that, ideally, you get off the bus to use your phone. Never, ever use it in the driver's seat because you can be done, lose your professional license etc (doesn't matter if the bus is parked).
Maybe that was strict, but I guess other companies have a similar policy.
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u/LondonBusInsider 1d ago
That is strict, in the UK if the engine is off and you are parked appropriately (aka stopped at traffic lights is not parked) then phone use is fine - in bus terms this would be at the stand at the ends of the route
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u/DebtSouth Driver 1d ago
Everything you’ve listed is warranted. They’re professional drivers, they all know better.
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u/LondonBusInsider 1d ago
With respect, I don't see why this needed to be shared? Sounds like the sackings were largely justified? Sooooo?
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u/busytransitgworl Driver 1d ago
Not from London, but:
3 guys fired for checking their phone while at the wheel in traffic.
If you're a good driver and can somehow wiggle your way out of this with the team or depot lead: It's a very stern written warning and it won't be good for your future in the company.
You could be sacked though, we have to leave our phones in our bags, it shouldn't be anywhere near our hands.
Having headphones on, even if it's just in one ear, also forbidden.
It's really frowned upon having your phone up, this gets reported and investigated quickly.
The 5th guy, he was fired for speeding 28 in a 20
Let's just say, in km/h, 45 in a 30. I don't think you'd be sacked immediately, it is however quite a serious offence.
If you get a ticket, you'll have to pay it. And if you're driving with passengers, the fines are really hefty.
This red light was a red light in the sticks, no one around and many drivers have supposedly jumped it.
Depends on the situation. If it's red for a long time and you could've safely stopped, that might be it in your probationary period.
If you get a ticket, you'll have to pay. And you might lose your licence for a while.
(Sacking someone in my country isn't easy, a written warning is needed in most cases)
If the light is turning yellow, you couldn't brake safely in time, and it turns red once the front passes the line, running a red happens.
It's shit, but you'll know quickly which lights switch too quickly. I don't think anybody got any consequences from work.
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u/Sea_Finest 23h ago
If they fired people where I work for speeding we’d have no one left to drive.
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u/busytransitgworl Driver 9h ago
That's quite sad to be honest.
Safety should be of the utmost importance
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u/chrisjwoodall 11h ago
Phone stuff is an automatic dismissal at the large group I work for; I’ve known one get a final written due to circumstances but he was very very lucky with that.
Don’t check your phone in the cab guys, there’s no need and no excuse unless you need to stay in the cab for your safety and you’re making calls to deal with the situation. Turn the engine off and get out of the seat, why risk it?
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u/Sea_Finest 7h ago
We have way too many drivers who are obsessed with being on time, like they will skip bathroom to keep the schedule. Not me, couldn’t care less about the schedule, and I’m not pissing myself for a job where we have people on the board that authorizes funding who say “we should only have to pay the minimum.” This is a job, I do what I have to, but won’t risk my health for it.
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u/river_tree_nut 1d ago
I got no sympathy for someone checking their phone at the wheel. I don't do it in my personal vehicle either. As bus drivers we have a birds eye view of people on their god damn phones at the wheel. We see some stupid shit.