From behind the wheel of a bus Justin McNamara sees near misses with pedestrians “at least once a week”.
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While the Dion’s bus driver hasn’t had to slam on the brakes, he regularly deals with cars pulling out in front of him or pedestrians taking their life into their hands by darting in front of cars to get to the bus.
“One big problem I find is with people wanting to get the bus,” Mr McNamara says.
“They’ll be on the other side of the road and they’ll do what they can to get across the road. I’ve seen a lot of close calls that way – at least once a week you see that – where people’s mission is to get the bus and they’ll bolt across the road.”
When it comes to cars, Mr McNamara says some drivers act as though the big bus is invisible. They turn in front of him, or pull out of an intersection and give him just metres to pull up the bus.
“It’s at least once a week with cars - some days you’ll get a few in a day,” he says.
“Especially with roundabouts. People don’t seem to understand roundabouts. They’ll see the bus coming, you can see them looking at you and then they’ll pull out at the last minute.”
He said people also misjudged the size of a bus and stood too close to the road.
“People will stand right on the edge of the gutter,” he says.
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“They don’t realise that we take up the whole lane as you’re driving. If they’re right on the gutter we have to move into the right-hand lane because even just the wind from the bus would almost knock them over.”
This week is Bus Safety Week, which is designed to get people to be more aware of buses.
State Transit Authority chief executive Steffen Faurby said everyone needed to be aware of buses – whether they’re a pedestrian, cyclist, driver or even on the bus itself.
“Bus Safety Week is about everyone taking responsibility for bus safety,” Mr Faurby said.
“Buses are large, heavy vehicles that can’t stop quickly, so keep a safe distance and give way to buses. This applies whether you’re walking, cycling, riding or driving.
“If you’re driving, avoid cutting in front when the lights are flashing on the back of the bus, reduce your speed to 40 kilometres per hour and give them the right of way.”
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
