Bus Drivers Are Blamed When They Get Rear-Ended! Ouch!!

[@TXMEDRGR]

Lots of people looking at their phones instead of the road. When I go for a walk, I never assume the drivers see me, too many people not paying attention to the street. Fortunately, I've never seen a bus driver on their phone while on duty. Please stay safe out there.

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Yeah because that's grounds to get us fired, even caught once

[@MadisonMetroBusOperator]

I seen many people do that up here in Madison, Wisconsin since it's a college town. It was a guy that was walking across the street and didn't realized that the light was about to changed green but a college students gave him back to save his life.

[@warriorwaitress7690]

​@adventureoflinkmk2 Same here in my city. Bus operators caught even just with their phones turned on - not even necessarily using it - that's an automatic termination for the first infraction.

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

@@warriorwaitress7690 lemme guess, non union? Because I've noticed that non union does that stuff, however if there's a union they'll give you a second chance

[@warriorwaitress7690]

@adventureoflinkmk2 Nah, it's ATU, the company just means business when it comes to operators on duty using their phones. It's an enormous liability. All is fair game on your break and away from the driver's seat, though.

[@obus7800]

I was rear-ended once on my trolleybus route while stopped to discharge passengers; all three brakelights were on and the doors were open. An approaching car I watched in my mirror simply drove squarely into the back of the trolley because he said he didn't realize it was stopped. He was charged but then his lawyer kept delaying the trial...finally, we he got the prosecutor he wanted his lawyer managed to get the charge withdrawn.

[@Blueskyz8]

It's always the bus driver's fault in the eyes of management

[@jeangouveia4521]

True

[@KenmareVintageVehicles]

Not true at all.

[@Bobbcudi]

bus drivers are guilty until proven innocent @@KenmareVintageVehicles

[@BakaniSnowpaw]

Clearly not a part of a major agency. You are blamed unless proven otherwise. Sad, but true.@@KenmareVintageVehicles

[@Chefstig12]

Where I’m from city bus drivers always get charged with accidents when their bus gets involved in collisions

[@elliekim6666]

If doesn't matter if it's a bus. You need to give enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you for safety . Unless the bus is brake checking you than you're at fault for rear ending it be it a car, bus or truck

[@TVHouseHistorian]

🗣️ “BRAKE CHECK, EVERYBODY HOLD ON!!” 🚌 💥 🚙 💥 🚗

[@paulkowald4057]

Back when I rode the school bus if a driver got into an accident, regardless of whose fault it was they all automatically get three days off

[@ZapFlashD]

6:33 Love that Voith transmission. Easily my favorite one in terms of sound

[@BusDriverLife]

Yes! Beautiful sounding bus!

[@TVHouseHistorian]

Me too!!!

[@DHSFEMA]

Over my career as a New York City Bus Operator I have been hit from behind 3 times

[@charkswitlazers]

This happened to an RTA operator in Corona, CA.. also on route 1. The car driver hit a bus at a stop, car driver died. Not long ago either

[@BusDriverLife]

Wow..that’s really sad!!

[@michiganborn8303]

I remember that crash and I think I was on block 110 doing the route 1. I was listening to the chatter over the radio since it's literally the only forum of entertainment I get. Whenever I get someone asking me: "Can you let me off right here? ", here's what I rell them. "Last time I did that, they were nice enough to return the favor by telling my supervisor what a nice thing I did for them, no good deed goes unpunished"

[@BusDriverLife]

That’s a great response to give!

[@PaceBusOperator192]

My coworker crashed into a car when they was doing route 318 going down North Avenue and Thatcher. I almost had an accident when I was making a left turn from Cermak and Harlem Avenue going westbound when I did route 322, this idiot make a far right left turn on Harlem going northbound. Some people don't understand that driving 40 foot vehicle could be a pain in the butt because it's not like we're driving our personal vehicles.

[@salbedolla3396]

The crash next to the “SAFE” building….😂😂

[@UniqueDevz]

Pittsburgh Regional Transit, uses that system "Farside, and Nearside".

[@omaralansari-kreger41]

As a paratransit bus operator here in the Twin Cities, we are required by law to stop at all railroad crossings. Whenever I stop at any railroad crossing, I'm always watching the vehicle behind me hoping they won't slam into me. Hasn't happened yet, but I've heard of stories from other bus operators. The ironic thing is they get blamed! Lol Accusing the bus operator by saying things like: "you didn't activate your flashers in time." Its unbelievable. What's really worrying is when I have to take up a lane of traffic on a 40 mph 2 lane road going one way off peak to load/unload a wheelchair. Considering all the distracted driving out there... You can't help but to worry if someone will slam into the back of your bus while you're securing a wheelchair...

[@ttopero]

Another reason why operating the train is better, & yes some still run into them! LOL

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

But at least, the train is not directly at the traffic, it just crosses it here and there and yet, the train has the priority. The problem with buses is that you're literally battling for some space almost all the time. 😕

[@seraphina985]

I've seen a car do that here rammed straight into the side of a 4.7m high bilevel passenger car half way down what has to be a like 300 metre long consist. Had to have been on their phone or something no other way they could have missed something with the side profile of a large building in front of them.

[@nobody_5201]

I feel like they should prohibit people to pull/park into bus stops, that way this can be avoided at times.

[@cpeng8017]

That video with the car crashed into the back of the bus is my Depot, then after that crash there was a Tesla crashed into the same bus. This is crazy.

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

Some buses are unlucky. I've seen some. 😅

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

Someone once asked me if I could compare driving a bus to a video game, which one is it similar to. I said, "It's like trying to beat the developer times in 'Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fuled.' You look at the device and see how late you are, and you're like, 'How'd they get that time?! They must've proxy-launched themselves up the walls or something!' "

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

The sensation of controlling the vehicle is similar to what you see in a videogame. At least for me, I can make the link between what I experience in the virtual and the real world. The problem is the rest. Dealing with real people is the big difference. They don't follow the rules and everything seems to be a complete mess compared to the videogame. I see people complaining about the AI of ETS2, per example, but that's nothing compared to real life. The mistakes of AI can get quite predictable after a while. But in real life people are mean, they are selfish. You never know exactly what comes next. AND, in a videogame sometimes I just crash. I don't care. But in real life things are more complicated.

[@deannawolford7768]

Route 1.... Haven't rode that route in Years!! Going from the Light Rail out to Highlands

[@whidbeyrules5566]

At my agency, all of our buses are completely invisible

[@jamesfrench7299]

Should just tell him it's not a taxi. Ignoring him at the end was the best bet.

[@Andi-xe8qo]

I got twice in one night rear ended than I ended on worker’s comp. Came back after a couple months then I got rear ended again out again. It took years to get better

[@Intersteighty]

Jeezus, one of those perfect storms... So glad you got better and may you continue to heal! 🙏🏾

[@FabiolaH24]

Bus drivers are blame for everything no matter if the car hit us from the front and back. I got to experience my almost incident because this car made a left turn from a far right when I was driving my bus route but luckily I stop just in time before it happened.

[@TrainMaster5097]

You dodged a big bullet. Keep operating safely. ✊🏾

[@terrencewalker1982]

I'm glad that you dodged a bullet from that situation. I remember I got into an accident when I was driving Greyhound buses. Stay safe out there.

[@quasarsavage]

Damn facts man do not follow my bus closely 😂 I will use my 4 ways and right turn signal at various distances prior to my stops giving all a heads up. Still have ppl honking at me tho. Wild. Also yeah we do the speed limit please pass if you are a speeder I won’t judge just don’t think that you can pressure the bus into going 60 in a 40

[@jonathanwilliams928]

I was doing the q43 heading east bound to floral Park and I was parked at the bus stop located on Hillside Avenue & parsons blvd. I was picking up passengers when a car came and swiped the rear corner of my bus and knocked out his own side mirror. My bus NEVER moved. There was no significant damage to the bus and the dude just kept going. I saw his side mirror and in my mind, I said "Serves you $$^&#@$ right!" Driver wasn't paying attention and acted on a last second decision but lost his side mirror due to him not paying full attention while driving his car.

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

A couple of weeks ago I was stopped at a traffic light and a car came slowly and hit the rear bumper. 😅 Remember: you must keep pressing the brake pedal if you want your car to stand still...

[@THATONEKID441]

So like 11 years ago A Rfta transit bus was driving when a car drove in to the side The bus flipped on its side but no one was injured, they had to add seat belts to busses Bus number 434 was retired and was also totaled

[@adamguymon7096]

I know that in California the law is that once a bus pulls up to a stop and loads and unloads passengers once they turn their signal on to enter traffic other cars have to yield and let the bus back into traffic. Unfortunately in Utah our buses can sometimes wait up to a good 10 minutes or more because even tho the driver has turned the signal on cars will not let the bus back into traffic. On the part where you mentioned the person that wanted to have a special stop when it was not safe, the driver can make special stops for a disabled passenger if the regular bus stop is out of commotion only if there is a another safe spot near the bus stop but even in this situation that was described even if it was a disabled passenger this would be the same. I wish that Utah had some of the same laws like California has?

[@exoressdelivers70]

When I drove a bus several years ago, any accident we were involved in was evaluated by a 'safety' committee. They would determine if the accident was preventable. Sometimes they would determine the accident was preventable even if the other driver got the ticket. If they determined the bus driver could have prevented it he or she got one day off without pay. More than 3 preventable accidents in 2 years you're out of a job. Also when a passenger insisted on getting off not at a bus stop and would not take no for an answer we would have to let them off as long as it was safe to do so. Otherwise the passenger could claim false imprisonment and sue the bus company.

[@jamesfrench7299]

So you're saying they would rather risk a lawsuit from an injured passenger rather than make them wait a bit longer to egress? That burdens the driver too much not having clear cut procedures to follow and making them risk avoidable injury from unforseen circumstances. I do not want to be a bus driver in that situation. The laws need to be amended there.

[@halah34]

We are required to signal into and out of a stop and use four ways when stopped.

[@BenjaminWillis-24]

My friends that drive CTA buses was cussed out by people especially by some of the elderly people because my friends are young bus drivers in the bus driving job.

[@nielsleenknegt5839]

In belgium it is the rule (I believe, im not 100% sure) that if there is a nose to rear colision, the driver behind is ALWAYS at foult. No matter what the vhiecle in front or behind is. Its up to the driver thats behind to keep a safe distance to the car in front so that at all time you can react and stop without hitting the car ahead.

[@nielsleenknegt5839]

On the not using indicator if you are not pulling in to a stop next to the driving lane: Our busses do that all the time. Even where it's just a 1 lane each way kind of street where there is no real space for a designated stop. Some drivers will pull onto bikelane next to the road (typicaly thats about half the width (or a third) of a normal car sized lane) to allow cars behind to see ahead to potentually overtake the bus. But other times ive seen cars overtake a bus where they definately did not even look.

[@Enviro4000]

Can't believe how tough your buses are, are yours made of steel rather than aluminium?

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

Most buses I know have a Steel frame covered by Aluminum sheets, plastic and fiber. But these american buses are rear engine. So the rear is probably very rigid. The ones we have here where I live are front engine. The back of the bus is just plastic and fiber glass. The problem is hitting the chassis frame behind the bumper. 😅

[@Enviro4000]

@@Gean...de...Oliveira ours are in the UK, but seems to get written off easily enough in accidents.

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

@@Enviro4000 But I agree with you. North american commercial vehicles always seem to be more about the function. They have simple designs and are strong. Buses, trucks, ambulances etc. I think nowadays things are changing as these vehicles are starting to get more attention to the overall design, aerodynamics, safety and by consequence more plastic, fiber parts. I like how European buses look, but to be honest the old american style makes more sense. A good commercial vehicle should be strong and easy to repair. 🤔

[@Intersteighty]

Very odd timing of this video... I just got off a bus tonight taking off from a stop that was almost rear-ended or side-swiped by a passing pickup, probably not paying attention to the moving bus. Truck driver and bus driver exchanged honks. Truck driver later floored it from a red light next to the bus driver. Truck driver was furious and bus driver had to have been frustrated. Pay attention, y'all. 👀

[@Intersteighty]

6:34 Lynx driver planned that lol 🚌 🙏🏾

[@TVHouseHistorian]

In the district I work in, being rear-ended while sitting stationary at a bus stop = 100% fault goes to the driver that was in motion at the moment of contact. Their fault = an ambulance ride for me which = a couple of weeks off for recovery (☀️🏖️😎), which then in-turn = a little ringy-ding-ding from their insurance company wanting to settle, at which point I refer them to my attorney, etc, etc… I get so tired of the public accusing us of being terrible drivers when THEY are the terrible drivers who don’t know how to avoid accidents. Here’s a little thing I want all my fellow bus ops to remember: when writing a state report after an accident, always follow what I call “The APA rule.” In the report you want to effectively communicate what you did to *Anticipate* the accident, what you did to *Prepare,* and what you did to *Avoid.* I’m kind of a wordsmith, and I know what our accident review board is looking for in a report, so I make sure I communicate effectively in writing. The better you are at writing, the more credible you look. Never write with your emotions like you’re trying to defend yourself. Believe me, THAT IS WHAT THE OTHER DRIVER IS DOING, because they want to pin this on you. They aren’t commercial drivers, and they aren’t that smart, so they have no idea how an accident report is to be effectively written. These people don’t even know the traffic laws most of the time. Remember, when writing your report, the fewer words the better. The more verbiage you throw at the review board, the more you implicate yourself. Always keep in mind “APA:” Anticipate, Prepare, Avoid. I t-boned a brand new car about a year and a half ago, used the APA format, used as few words as possible to describe what happened, and they couldn’t poke a single hole in my story. I wound up not getting held responsible for what happened. It all rightfully fell on the other guy. Oh, and keep the APA rule in mind while you’re driving. Those cameras will prove whether you did everything you could to avoid the accident or not. Sorry for the soliloquy 😅

[@gustavokennedy213]

I Kidd u not I was stopped on at rail road crossing here in Austin Texas. Lady ran into the back of the bus she told the cop who was on scene it was my fault. I made a illegal stop. Cop was a state trooper.

[@adampalmer2454]

the system i ride requires the drivers to put the 4 way flashers when picking up and dropping riders totally on the car probably texting on the phone kind of hard not to notice a bus coming at you

[@Servergmr]

Usually when buses stop in my area, I see them put hazard lights on before stopping at bus stops. Also, most countries drive on the right, it's not just the United States of America. Most of Europe drives on the right, Britain and Ireland are the only exceptions.

[@KilldozerNY]

I'll tap my brakes once or twice and put on my 4 ways before getting to the stop to give a warning im about to stop .

[@BTin416]

When my indicator light is on to merge left, and many cars ignore the legal requirement for them to yield to the bus, and then I merge when there is an opening in traffic... People still get offended even after I've waited a bit for a space and there are drivers that will flip off/honk/merge into oncoming traffic and speed around to get in front of the bus I drive. I've seen each of these situations at one point or another. Many people are good drivers, but many people aren't. The general driving public needs to be better educated and capable of their own driving skills. I sometimes think North American jurisdictions hand out drivers' licenses like candy and don't truly teach people the way to drive better. Instead of tests, it should be more hands-on and practical. Book learning and written tests do not produce good drivers. And a lot more than a brief driving test an instructor grades you on. Testing doesn't seem to build driving skill/aptitude or encourage learning.

[@DeniseM4698]

“Now you making shit up” 😂😂😂😂😂 i can’t stand the public. Cause how you gone tell me what i know and is the rules

[@BusDriverLife]

Exactly!! 😆

[@DeniseM4698]

@@BusDriverLife smh. They think we can break policy. I’m not one of them. I can’t say what the new drivers do

[@Gean...de...Oliveira]

What really p!sses me off is that they require bus drivers to do everything right. But the environment around the bus is such a mess that working becomes a challenge. A few following the rules and respecting each other = frustration. Like, you must always stop close to the sidewalk for passangers. But sometimes if you do so, good luck getting back in motion. I've noticed some car drivers step on the gas as soon as they see my left indicators on. Result: a lot of bus drivers here don't stop very close to the sidewalk so they keep the bus on the lane, some others don't signal their intention to get back in motion, they just go when there's a gap. I don't understand what's so difficult about sharing the space with buses. It is slower, yes, but MUCH more important to our world than your private car. Depending on the type, a single bus can carry up to 120 people. Now imagine 60 cars carrying 2 people each instead of 1 bus carrying 120. 😮

[@VEGASCHAOTIC]

Everything is the bus drivers fault . Right down to the last trip and fall.

[@clarencew93]

Man every time write up

[@erynd2524]

I wasn’t rear ended on the bus, but there 2as a car that jumped out in front of the bus without any warning and she was tboned in the middle of University drive at 10:30 at night. The bus driver had nowhere to go and tried to avoid hitting her but he couldn’t slow down in time. This chick also had her headlights off too. I backed the driver up 100%. AZ drivers suck.

[@tdadp]

I say it’s about 70% percent the other driver fault and 30% the bus drivers fault

[@rockstc955]

Its always the fault everything but cars in the eyes of money in politics

[@LifeOnCoach]

😲 ✌🏾

[@elliekim6666]

The bus driver respects us ? 😂😅. I've seen bus go AROUND ME to avoid picking me up.

[@BusDriverLife]

Well it seems that particular bus driver didn’t respect you if they were indeed in service at the time. Most bus drivers are not passing people though..the drivers could face consequences for that especially with everyone filming and posting everything nowadays.

[@Andi-xe8qo]

Did the driver saw you or you their hiding.?

[@elliekim6666]

@@Andi-xe8qo lmaoo. No I was at the first stop and he was doing an end trip. Usually they go around the block to turn around . Nah he drove straight instead of making the left and found out by tracking he started the route at the second stop .

[@RenoBusdriver]

Most of us drivers make every attempt to pick people up. There are certain people who like to distract or cause grief to the driver or passengers. Those individuals will be denied service, lawfully or policy wise it is wrong to deny people of bus service unless you create an unsafe situation or refuse to follow rules of conduct. We have this passenger whom I refer to as germaphobe. Always stands in the standee area with gloves and a mask on. I don’t care if you stand but stand past the front wheel well so in the event we have to slam on the brakes you don’t go flying into the fare box or windshield. So since she refuses to comply -cough- someone gets passed. Trust me we have passengers who are grateful when we do a do not board or do a pass by. Management will disagree and try to discourage that behavior from the driver.

[@BenjaminWillis-24]

Bus drivers only pass people up if the bus was very crowded and no more space because bus drivers could get in trouble if they're just passing people up just for the fun of it because I got bus driver friends and they stop to pick up people at bus stops.

[@NateOnThe-Radio]

It’s interesting you bring this up because buses can get rear-ended… even a bus can rear-end other buses. Just about two weeks ago, a contracted school bus from Moorhead Public Schools rear-ended a district bus because the driver was distracted by students not listening in the back of the bus… the plus side is no one was injured and there was only some bumps & bruises. I honestly think the students that distracted the driver shouldn’t be allowed to even ride the bus the rest of the year

[@TVHouseHistorian]

If I were the parent of any one of those students, they’d be walking to and from school for an entire calendar year. I don’t care how many miles it is or how long it takes to get there on foot. If they have get their arses up at 3am every morning to make it there by 8, then so be it. They can get their homework done on the way home, then dinner, then *straight* to bed. A. Whole. Calendar. Year. 👏

[@Emirates_A380]

Thank you for sharing you experience with us. Bus driver🚍