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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be furious with school bus driver

190 replies

WashingLion · 26/02/2013 19:13

For taking my 5year old off the bus and leaving her, alone by a busy main road, because the childminder was 5 minutes late.

And then to be furious with the bus company for denying all responsibility (this is a school bus).

The childminder is very responsible but was held up in traffic. My daughter was found wandering down the road by a (luckily) kindly stranger who asked her where I work and managed to track me down.

OP posts:
pigletmania · 27/02/2013 07:59

Saintly that would happen to dd, thank goodness her transport picks up and collects from home

NormaStanleyFletcher · 27/02/2013 08:24

YANBU. Hope you get some more reasonable responses today.

Tee2072 · 27/02/2013 08:30

I am sick just reading this. So glad your daughter is okay.

My son is suppose to start taking the bus next year to his school (provided he gets a place) but they have a chaperone on the bus for P1-P3 (I'm in Belfast). If they didn't, he wouldn't take the bus, I'd walk him!

I hope you get a good resolution soon, OP.

undercoverhousewife · 27/02/2013 08:56

Just to show this isn't new, I just remembered a story my mother told me from back in the 1940's. She was on the school bus with a friend who was not well. Said friend was so "not well" that she was sick in the bus. The bus driver chucked her off to walk home. My mother (kind soul) got off and walked with her. The sick little girl died later that week - she had polio and my mother is convinced it is the walk that killed her as exercise is severely contra indicated with polio. She is still sad about it 70 years later, and feels guilty that she (aged 7) didn't have the courage to stand up to the bus driver. She went on to be a nurse partly because of this incident.

We are just talking common humanity sometimes. most bus drivers are lovely btw but I'm not sure any amount of regulation will account for those that are twats.

Original poster
WashingLion · 27/02/2013 10:51

I really thought this particular driver was lovely - I don't know what has happened. We have now been in touch with the police, who are speaking with the bus company and the council. We have also spoken with the council and the headmistress of DD's school. Hopefully this will be sorted out. The school is almost 6 miles away and until now, the bus has been a godsend. Thanks for your support.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2013 10:52

Good luck Washing x

TheSeniorWrangler · 27/02/2013 10:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheSmallPrint · 27/02/2013 11:05

I am just horrified reading this. The thought of my 5yo DS being left on the side of a main road makes my blood run cold. Sad I hope you get to the bottom of this and it never happens again.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2013 11:34

Contacting the police sounds like absolutely the right thing to do. The bus company may feel that they can fob off a concerned mother, but will be a lot more focused if the police have a quiet word.

I am also surprised that the school and the council don't seem more concerned. Yes, the chap responsible is away on his holidays, but there should be someone covering his responsibilities whilst he is away, and able to deal with any urgent issues - which this certainly is. The school should also have bollocked the bus company, and should have said they'd be recommending that the council withdraw the contract from the bus company, if they didn't apologise, discipline the bus driver, and improve their policies and compliance quick-smart!

EducationalAppStore · 27/02/2013 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2013 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SpottyTeacakes · 27/02/2013 11:57

They've done it on every bloody thread I'm on!

Sparklingbrook · 27/02/2013 11:59

Like a huge spam explosion. Sad

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/02/2013 12:00

And now they are being deleted, so I look like a randomly foul-mouthed old bizzom when I was actually telling them to fuck off! Oh well, people had to find out sooner or later! Grin

wigglesrock · 27/02/2013 12:06

My daughters also have a chaperoned bus P1-P2 and from P3 onwards (later finishing time) the bus waits - I've seen them wait 10 -15 mins.

wigglesrock · 27/02/2013 12:08

Sorry posted too soon, if by 15 mins no-one has shown up the child stays on the bus and is dropped back to the school.

EthelredOnAGoodDay · 27/02/2013 12:13

Hope you get to the bottom of this. It is appalling.

greenfolder · 27/02/2013 12:19

you really have to wonder in this day and age how such a thing could even vaguely happen. there are such well organised procedures/training etc, how could a 5 year old be left on the side of the road?

good for kindly stranger making huge effort to protect your dd and sort it all out. i would like to think that most would do the same, and i do not think the world is full of child snatchers-but what if she tried to cross the rd?

greenfolder · 27/02/2013 12:19

and who could look at a 5 year old and think"well, thats their problem, ive left them by the side of the road, they should be ok?" brain explodes

atthewelles · 27/02/2013 12:23

How old is this driver? Does he have children of his own?

How could any adult think it was okay to leave a 5 year old to wander down the road on their own? It just beggars belief as does the unconcerned answer you got from the bus company. That person should be in serious trouble as well.

pigletmania · 27/02/2013 12:43

Well done op, also good on you for calling the police it is a very serious matter. It makes my blood run cold thinking what could have happened, thnk goodness it did not and a kind person found your dd

shallweshop · 27/02/2013 12:46

OMG, how totally and utterly irresponsible. I am glad you are taking this matter further - the driver needs disciplining for this.

rainbow2000 · 27/02/2013 13:13

Ive a 5 year old and it just doesnt bear thinking about.There is absolutley no exscuse whats so ever.You are right to go to the police after they might fob you off but they wont do that to the police.

cumfy · 27/02/2013 15:30

I am just a bit curious why the nearest primary school to this "very busy main road" is 6 miles away ?

Everyone should be clear as to what the procedure is in this circumstance and follow it or be sacked.

cumfy · 27/02/2013 15:47

I also feel the CM should be being paid to be there 10 minutes early.

I can only assume this wasn't the arrangement otherwise you'd be livid with the CM too.

Have you considered getting a CM in the vicinity of the school and hence cut the bus co out of the equation altogether ?

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