Do you think being a Bus driver is a skilled job?

[UrbanMan27]

Sorry about this random post.

But, what's your opinions on this? Also do you respect Bus drivers?

I knew someone who worked as a bus driver and they said the same. I get paid more than a quid over minimum wage and I have nothing like the pressure on me. Never mind the unpaid breaks earlier/ lates. I don’t know why anyone would want the job, better to do hgv training.

This

have you ever driven anything other than a bus or a car?

Yes, and yes. Underpaid too I should think.

Large vehicle, very often even a double decker. Difficult and heavy traffic if in cities, other drivers on the road behaving like arses, members of the public on the bus, some of them also capable of being arses. Various tests required to learn to drive a public service vehicle including additional driving lessons (in a bus) and tests in order to gain the correct paperwork to go with your basic driving licence, medicals etc. I think also some do need to be DBS checked (whatever it is called these days) if they will be driving school bus services.

There is also a definite skill to manoeuvring them safely in tight situations too.

Anyone suggesting that it is a job that anyone who can drive could do is clearly utterly clueless.

Are you a bus or a lorry driver? 🥰

Neither.

I would hate it and although I can drive a car I wouldn't want to drive anything larger. 😉

Oh soz was just asking for a friend 😅

Will they need to be able to drive a bus/commercial vehicle which requires training, certification so it is probably semi-skilled. Not sure what else is required above that which would class it as skilled.

Tbf it's also where you drive, location location location, nicer areas have fitter clerks and bus drivers.

I always call a quick thank you to the bus driver when I get off the bus though I do notice some people just ignore them

My most regular route is from a park and ride to a city centre. They deal with all sorts on that route, ranging from semi rural traffic to heavy city centre traffic, with all sorts of characters as passengers too. They work alone and I think a little acknowledgement is nice.

I do this as well xxx Great minds think alike. A little bit of thank you doesn't cost anything

As someone who does use trains every few weeks but knows little about train drivers, I just wanted to add that I find what you say very interesting.

DH does have a couple of cousins who drive on the London Underground but we rarely see them. I take it you drive a different type of train, and somewhere other than London?

@Topseyt123 yes i'm overground service. I go to Brighton ☺️

@Topseyt123 rules 🙋‍♀️🙂

You’d think it would be bloody obvious that driving a bus - even more so if it’s a double decker bus or one of those weird bendy buses - is very different to driving a car.

And that’s without all the dealing with passengers bits of things.

It’s not that we should be treating bus drivers as some sort of heroes, but let’s recognise that there’s an important skill set there that not everyone is going to easily acquire.

There are loads of jobs that people treat quite dismissively, but the people
who do those jobs definitely have specialist knowledge and skills in order to just do the job.

Isn't every job a skilled job? It's more about the level of skill. Even a lollypop lady, which to most, might appear as a walking into the street and walking back again thing... can be considered a skill. It still requires attention, endurance, a degree of multitasking (many children and cars)...
No disrespect to those that are lollypop ladies... (is it lollypop people these days???)

I guess it's more about the skill to salary ratio.

But yes, definitely a skill I couldn't do, and yes I respect them.

Everyday Heroes, always remember to thank them 4 their service 🙏🌟

I had an opportunity to drive one around a bus depot. It was scary as hell! The visibility down the side of the bus, how much extra space you need, the fact the wheels are behind where you sit. So very different to driving a car.

I am always in awe how they drive so close to parked cars to get through tight spaces, round fight corners at normal speed too. Not to mention keeping alert for cyclists and mopeds weaving in and out.

Yes, I couldn't drive a bus, they're huge and can easily damage lots of people, vehicles and buildings if you don't have the right skills.

Yes and yes!

My grandad spent his life driving buses/ambulances/hgvs, his son was a secondary teacher who took early retirement to become a coach driver and had now been at that nearly 20 years, his son is a delivery driver for takeaway pizzas.

I'm an academic, so trained to the highest level in my subject area, international-level expertise, and a trained HE teacher.

No way in the world could I do their jobs (passed my test at 40, on the second go, with 1 minor in an automatic. I could never spend all day behind the wheel as I find it really tiring and stressful and can't follow directions to save my life).

As somebody who regularly drives trucks for my work I can tell you it's absolutely not a job anybody with a driving license can do. There are so many people who struggle with easy thing like parallel parking. These people would not drive a bus around London easily, especially without bumping a kerb etc like bus drivers need to do when carrying passengers.

I've had a HGV license for almost six years and I occasionally still misjudge a tight corner and catch a kerb with my rear wheel when navigating tight newbuild estates/construction sites.

I barely cared 6 months ago, I just answered a random question. Leave me alone! 😂

A majority of the bus drivers on my route are grumpy fuckers and a couple are downright rude

It's always a relief to get a nice one